View source for Stephen Harper

{{Short description|Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015}}
{{Other people|Stephen Harper}}
{{Good article}}
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{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Stephen Harper
| honorific_suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|CC|AOE|size=100%}}
| image               = Stephen Harper by Remy Steinegger Infobox.jpg
| caption             = Harper in 2010
| order1              = 22nd
| office1             = Prime Minister of Canada
| monarch1            = [[Elizabeth II]]
| governor_general1   = {{plainlist|
* [[Michaëlle Jean]]
* [[David Johnston (governor general)|David Johnston]]
}}
| term_start1         = February 6, 2006
| term_end1           = November 4, 2015
| predecessor1        = [[Paul Martin]]
| successor1          = [[Justin Trudeau]]
| office2             = [[International Democracy Union#Chairmen|Chairman of the International Democracy Union]]{{efn|International Democrat Union until 2023.}}
| deputy2             = [[Brian Loughnane]]
| term_start2         = February 21, 2018
| term_end2           = 
| predecessor2        = [[John Key]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Additional offices held|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}
| office3             = [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| term_start3         = March 20, 2004
| term_end3           = February 6, 2006
| predecessor3        = [[Grant Hill (politician)|Grant Hill]]
| successor3          = [[Bill Graham (Canadian politician)|Bill Graham]]
| term_start4         = May 21, 2002
| term_end4           = January 8, 2004
| predecessor4        = [[John Reynolds (Canadian politician)|John Reynolds]]
| successor4          = Grant Hill
| office5             = [[Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada|Leader of the Conservative Party]]
| term_start5         = March 20, 2004
| term_end5           = October 19, 2015
| deputy5             = [[Peter MacKay]]
| predecessor5        = [[John Lynch-Staunton]] (interim)
| successor5          = [[Rona Ambrose]] (interim)
| office6             = [[Canadian Alliance#Party leaders|Leader of the Canadian Alliance]]
| term_start6         = March 20, 2002
| term_end6           = December 7, 2003
| predecessor6        = John Reynolds (interim)
| successor6          = ''Position abolished''
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| office7             = [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]]
| constituency7       = [[Calgary Southwest]] (2002–2015)<br />[[Calgary Heritage]] (2015–2016)
| term_start7         = May 13, 2002
| term_end7           = August 26, 2016
| predecessor7        = [[Preston Manning]]
| successor7          = [[Bob Benzen]]
| constituency8       = [[Calgary West]]
| term_start8         = October 25, 1993
| term_end8           = April 26, 1997
| predecessor8        = [[Jim Hawkes]]
| successor8          = [[Rob Anders]]
| birth_name          = Stephen Joseph Harper
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1959|04|30|mf=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Leaside]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| death_cause         = 
| party               = [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] (since 2003)
| otherparty          = {{plainlist|
* [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform]] (1987–2000)
* [[Canadian Alliance|Alliance]] (2000–2003)
}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Laureen Harper|Laureen Teskey]]|December 11, 1993}}
| children            = 2
| relatives           = 
| residence           = [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], Canada
| education           = [[Richview Collegiate Institute]]
| alma_mater          = [[University of Calgary]]<br />([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])
| signature           = Stephen Harper Signature-rt.svg
| signature_alt       = Vectorized signature of Stephen Harper.
| website             = {{URL|stephenharper.com}}
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Stephen Harper voice.ogg|title=Stephen Harper's voice|type=speech|description=Recorded January 26, 2012}}
}}

'''Stephen Joseph Harper''' (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian <!--DO NOT add economist before consensus is established at [[Talk:Stephen Harper#Lead: Stephen Harper is a Canadian economist?]] per [[WP:CON]]-->politician who served as the 22nd [[prime minister of Canada]]<!--DO NOT capitalize prime minister, per [[WP:JOBTITLES]]--> from 2006 to 2015. He is to date the only prime minister to have come from the modern-day [[Conservative Party of Canada]], being the party's co-founder and serving as its first [[List of Canadian conservative leaders|leader]] from 2004 to 2015. Since 2018, he has also been the [[International Democracy Union#Chairmen|chairman of the International Democracy Union]]. 

Harper studied [[economics]], earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in 1985 and 1991, respectively, from the [[University of Calgary]]. He was one of the founders of the [[Reform Party of Canada]] and was first elected to [[Parliament of Canada|Parliament]] in the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 federal election]] in the [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Calgary West]]. He did not seek re-election in [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997]], and instead joined and later led the [[National Citizens Coalition]], a conservative [[lobbyist]] group. In [[Canadian Alliance leadership elections#2002 leadership election|2002]], he succeeded [[Stockwell Day]] as leader of the [[Canadian Alliance]], the successor to the Reform Party, and returned to Parliament as [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|leader of the Official Opposition]]. In 2003, Harper and [[Peter MacKay]] negotiated the merger of the Canadian Alliance with the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] to form the [[Conservative Party of Canada]]. Harper was elected as the party's first leader in [[2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2004]]. In the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 federal election]], the Conservative Party lost to the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] led by [[Paul Martin]]. Following the defeat of Martin's government in a [[motion of no confidence]], Harper led the Conservatives to a [[Minority governments in Canada|minority government]] in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]].

During [[Premiership of Stephen Harper|Harper's premiership]], he faced the [[In and Out scandal]], reduced the [[Goods and services tax (Canada)|goods and services tax]] (GST) to 5%, and passed the ''[[Federal Accountability Act]]'', the [[Québécois nation motion]], and the ''[[Veterans' Bill of Rights]]''. After the Conservatives won a larger minority government in the [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008 federal election]], Harper [[Prorogation in Canada|prorogued Parliament]] to avoid defeat by a [[2008–2009 Canadian parliamentary dispute|proposed coalition of opposition parties]], enacted the [[2009 Canadian federal budget|Economic Action Plan]] of personal income tax cuts and infrastructure investments in response to the [[Great Recession]], introduced the [[tax-free savings account]], and ordered [[Operation Mobile|military intervention]] during the [[Libyan civil war (2011)|First Libyan Civil War]]. In March 2011, a [[no-confidence vote]] found Harper's government to be in [[contempt of Parliament]], triggering a [[2011 Canadian federal election|federal election]] in which the Conservatives won a [[majority government]]. Harper then repealed the [[Canadian Firearms Registry|long-gun registry]], privatized the [[Canadian Wheat Board]], and enacted the ''[[Anti-terrorism Act, 2015]]''. His government significantly reduced Canada's [[budget deficit]] from $55.6 billion in 2009 to $2.9 billion in [[2015 Canadian federal budget|2015]]. In foreign policy, Harper's government [[Canada and the Kyoto Protocol|withdrew Canada from the Kyoto Protocol]], launched [[Canada's Global Markets Action Plan]], negotiated [[free trade agreement]]s including the [[Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement]] (CETA), and initiated military operations [[Operation Impact|against ISIL]] and [[Operation UNIFIER|in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea]]. Harper's Conservatives also faced controversies in the [[2011 Canadian federal election voter suppression scandal|Robocall scandal]] and the [[Canadian Senate expenses scandal]], and confronted the [[Idle No More]] [[social movement|movement]].

In the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]], the Conservative Party was defeated by the Liberal Party led by [[Justin Trudeau]]. Harper officially stepped down as party leader in October 2015, and resigned his seat in August 2016. Since then, he has taken on a number of international business and leadership roles, including founding a global consulting firm, appearing in U.S. and British media, and being elected as chairman of the [[International Democracy Union]], an [[Political international|international alliance]] of [[centre-right]] to [[right-wing]] political parties. Harper ranks average to above-average in [[Historical rankings of prime ministers of Canada|rankings of prime ministers of Canada]].

==Early life and education==
Harper was born and raised in the [[Leaside|Town of Leaside]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ballingall|first1=Alex|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/2015/10/19/what-its-like-living-in-stephen-harpers-old-house.html |title=What it's like living in Stephen Harper's old house |work=Toronto Star |date=October 19, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref> now a neighbourhood of [[Toronto]], Ontario, the first of three sons of Margaret (née Johnston) and Joseph Harris Harper, an accountant at [[Imperial Oil]].<ref>William Johnson, ''Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada'', p. 7</ref> The Harper family traces its ancestral roots back to [[Sledmere]], a village in [[Yorkshire]], [[England]], with Harper's 4th great-grandfather Christopher having emigrated to [[Nova Scotia]] in 1774, where he later served as [[justice of the peace]] in the area that is now [[New Brunswick]].<ref name="Globe And Mail">{{cite news|last1=MacGregor|first1=Roy|title=Tracing the Prime Minister's family tree|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/incoming/tracing-the-prime-ministers-family-tree/article4274405/|access-date=May 20, 2015|work=Globe & Mail}}</ref><ref>Al Smith, "[https://tantramarheritage.ca/2010/04/white-fence-45/ Prime Minister Harper's Tantramar Roots]", in ''The White Fence: Newsletter of the Tantramar Heritage Trust'', Issue # 45, April 2010. Accessed April 10, 2021.</ref>

Harper attended Northlea Public School in Leaside and, later, [[John G. Althouse Middle School]] and [[Richview Collegiate Institute]], both in [[Etobicoke]], Toronto. He graduated from high school in 1978, and was a member of Richview Collegiate's team on ''[[Reach for the Top]]'', a televised academic quiz show for high school students.<ref name=ReachForTheTop>O'Connor, Naoibh,{{cite web|url=http://www.vancourier.com/issues04/064104/news/064104nn11.html |title='Nerds' tops in Canada |access-date=October 9, 2006 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019191959/http://www.vancourier.com/issues04/064104/news/064104nn11.html |archive-date=October 19, 2006 }}, ''The Vancouver Courier'', August 5, 2004. Retrieved October 9, 2006.</ref> Harper first enrolled at the [[Trinity College, Toronto|Trinity College]] of the [[University of Toronto]].<ref name=Johnson>William Johnson, ''Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada'', p. 12</ref> In an attempt to establish independence from his parents, Harper dropped out of the University of Toronto and then moved to [[Edmonton, Alberta]], where he found work in the mail room at Imperial Oil.<ref name=Johnson /> Later, he advanced to work on the company's computer systems. He took up post-secondary studies again at the [[University of Calgary]], where he completed a bachelor's degree in economics in 1985. He later returned there to earn a master's degree in economics, completed in 1991.<ref name = Historica>Harrison, Trevor W., (2012) "Stephen Harper." ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' Historica Canada last ed. June 11, 2015.</ref> Throughout his career, Harper has kept strong links to the University of Calgary. Trained as an economist, Harper was the first prime minister with an economics degree since [[Pierre Trudeau]] and the first prime minister without a law degree since [[Joe Clark]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 1, 2013|title=Politicians now more likely to be businessmen than lawyers|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/02/01/politicians_now_more_likely_to_be_businessmen_than_lawyers.html|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=thestar.com|language=en}}</ref>

==Political beginnings==
Harper became involved in politics as a member of his high school's [[Young Liberals of Canada|Young Liberals club]].<ref name=canadiancontent1>{{cite web |url=http://www.canadiancontent.net/people/politics/Stephen-Harper.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028010046/http://www.canadiancontent.net/people/politics/Stephen-Harper.html |archive-date=2008-10-28 |title=Stephen Harper |website=Canadian Content |access-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> He later changed his political allegiance because he disagreed with the [[National Energy Program]] (NEP) of Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government.<ref>William Johnson, ''Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada'', p. 19</ref> He became executive assistant to Progressive Conservative (PC) Member of Parliament (MP) [[Jim Hawkes]] in 1985 but later became disillusioned with the party and the government of [[Brian Mulroney]], citing the administration's economic policy. He left the PC Party the next year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/alliance_race/harper1.html|title=Stephen Harper |website=CBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030214221241/http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/alliance_race/harper1.html |access-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-date=February 14, 2003 |quote=Harper had been involved with the Progressive Conservative party since 1981 and after graduating he took a job as executive assistant to Jim Hawkes, the Tories' MP for Calgary West. That lasted until 1986, when Harper experienced what Preston Manning called "profound disillusionment" with the Conservative government in Ottawa, especially their economic and fiscal policy.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgarian-longtime-tory-mp-jim-hawkes-has-died-at-84-1.5130506|title=Longtime Calgary MP Jim Hawkes has died at 84|website=CBC News|date=May 9, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

Harper was then recommended by the University of Calgary's economist Bob Mansell to [[Preston Manning]], the founder and leader of the [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Right-wing populism|populist]] [[Reform Party of Canada]]. At that time, Harper "didn't see himself as a politician", Mansell told CBC News in 2002, adding, "Politics was not his first love."<ref name=cbc-bio>{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Schwartz|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/alliance_race/harper1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030214221241/http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/alliance_race/harper1.html|title=Stephen Harper|work=[[CBC News]]|date=April 4, 2002|archive-date=February 14, 2003}}</ref>

Manning invited him to participate in the party, and Harper gave a speech at Reform's 1987 founding convention in [[Winnipeg]]. He became the Reform Party's chief policy officer, and he played a major role in drafting the 1988 election platform,<ref name=cbc-bio/> otherwise known as the Blue Book, which helped form the principles and policies of the party. Harper was influenced by his political mentor, [[Tom Flanagan (political scientist)|Tom Flanagan]], when writing the book.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewalrus.ca/the-man-behind-stephen-harper/|title=The Man behind Stephen Harper|last=McDonald|first=Marci|date=October 12, 2004|website=The Walrus|language=en-US|access-date=November 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://contentdm.ucalgary.ca/digital/collection/reform/id/197/|title=Cover|website=contentdm.ucalgary.ca|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110184621/https://contentdm.ucalgary.ca/digital/collection/reform/id/197/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bratt|first=Duane|date=January 2, 2018|title=Implementing the Reform Party agenda: the roots of Stephen Harper's foreign policy|journal=Canadian Foreign Policy Journal|volume=24|issue=1|pages=1–17|doi=10.1080/11926422.2017.1359195|s2cid=158332437|issn=1192-6422}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tory-candidates-anti-immigrant-rhetoric-an-act-of-self-destruction/article34220404/|title=Tory candidates' anti-immigrant rhetoric an act of self-destruction|access-date=November 28, 2019}}</ref> Harper is credited with creating Reform's campaign slogan, "The West wants in!"<ref>{{cite news|first=Rex|last=Murphy|url=http://www.cbc.ca/national/rex/2007/03/stephen_harpers_new_priority.html|title=Rex Murphy: Stephen Harper's new priority|publisher=cbc.ca|date=March 22, 2007|access-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref>

Harper ran for the House of Commons in the [[1988 Canadian federal election|1988 federal election]] in Calgary West and losing by a wide margin to Hawkes, his former employer. After Reform candidate [[Deborah Grey]] was elected as the party's first MP in a 1989 [[1989 Beaver River federal by-election|by-election]], Harper became Grey's executive assistant, serving as her chief adviser and speechwriter until 1993.<ref name="Geoff White 1989">Geoff White, "Ottawa will be hearing from Reform MP", ''Calgary Herald'', April 21, 1989, pg. A5.</ref> He remained prominent in the Reform Party's national organization in his role as policy chief, encouraging the party to expand beyond its Western base and arguing that strictly regional parties were at risk of being taken over by radical elements.<ref>Paul Gessell, "The "other' parties are picking up big followings", ''[[Kitchener-Waterloo Record]]'', October 26, 1990, A9.</ref> He delivered a speech at the Reform Party's 1991 national convention, in which he condemned extremist views.<ref>George Oake, "Reform Party tries to avoid appearance of extremism", ''Toronto Star'', April 6, 1991, pg. A12</ref>

Harper's relationship with Manning became strained in 1992, because of conflicting strategies over the [[Charlottetown Accord]]. Harper opposed the accord on principle for ideological reasons, while Manning was initially more open to compromise. Harper also criticized Manning's decision to hire [[Rick Anderson (political strategist)|Rick Anderson]] as an adviser, believing that Anderson was not sufficiently committed to the Reform Party's principles.<ref>William Johnson, ''Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada'', (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 2005), pp. 179–83</ref> Harper resigned as the policy chief in October 1992.

Harper stood for office again in the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 federal election]] and defeated Jim Hawkes amid a significant Reform breakthrough in Western Canada.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/john-robson-why-should-maxime-bernier-wait-havent-we-all-waited-long-enough|title=John Robson: Why should Maxime Bernier wait? Haven't we all waited long enough? {{!}} National Post|newspaper=National Post|date=August 28, 2018|language=en-CA|access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref> The [[National Citizens Coalition]] (NCC) ran a $50,000 print and television campaign against Hawkes but did not endorse Harper directly.<ref>Kenneth Whyte, "The right-wingers duke it out in the Calgary West corral", ''The Globe and Mail'', October 2, 1993, pg. D2</ref>

===Reform Party MP (1993–1997)===
Harper emerged a prominent member of the Reform Party caucus. He was active on constitutional issues and played a prominent role in drafting the Reform Party's strategy for the [[1995 Quebec referendum]]. A long-standing opponent of centralized [[Canadian federalism|federalism]], he stood with Preston Manning in Montreal to introduce a twenty-point plan to "decentralize and modernize" Canada in the event of a "no" victory.<ref>Neville Nankivell, "Reform's voice will grow louder", ''Financial Post'', October 31, 1995, p. 23</ref> Harper later argued that the "no" side's narrow [[plurality (voting)|plurality]] was a worst-case scenario, in that no-one had won a mandate for change.<ref>"Harris joins other leaders in calling for change", ''Hamilton Spectator'', October 31, 1995, pg. A1</ref>

Harper has expressed some [[social conservatism|socially conservative]] views on certain issues.<ref>{{cite news|first=Richard|last=Dufour|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jan2006/harp-j20.shtml|title=Who is Stephen Harper, the Conservative poised to be Canada's next prime minister?|work=World Socialist Web Site|publisher=International Committee of the Fourth International|date=January 20, 2006|access-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> In 1994, he opposed plans by federal Justice Minister [[Allan Rock]] to introduce spousal benefits for same-sex couples. Citing the recent failure of a similar initiative in Ontario, he was quoted as saying, "What I hope they learn is not to get into it. There are more important social and economic issues, not to mention the unity question."<ref>Marta Gold, "Same-sex fight going to Ottawa", ''Hamilton Spectator'', June 10, 1994, pg. A3</ref> Harper also spoke against the possibility of the [[Canadian Human Rights Commission]] or the [[Supreme Court of Canada|Supreme Court]] changing federal policy in these and other matters.<ref>Joan Crockett, "Robinson lays equality complaint", ''Hamilton Spectator'', June 22, 1994, pg. A12</ref>

At the Reform Party's 1994 policy convention, Harper was part of a small minority of delegates who voted against restricting the definition of marriage to "the union of one man and one woman".<ref>[[Edward Greenspon]], "Stephen Harper: a neo-con in a land of liberals", ''Globe and Mail'', March 23, 2002, A17.</ref> He opposed both [[Same-sex marriage in Canada|same-sex marriage]] and mandated benefits for same-sex couples, but argued that political parties should refrain from taking official positions on these and other "issues of conscience".<ref>Johnson, ''Stephen Harper'', p. 222</ref>

Harper was the only Reform MP to support the creation of the [[Canadian Firearms Registry]] at [[second reading]] in 1995, although he later voted against it at [[third reading]] stage. He said at the time that he initially voted for the registry because of a poll showing that most of his constituents supported it, and added that he changed his vote when a second poll showed the opposite result. It was reported in April 1995, that some Progressive Conservatives opposed to [[Jean Charest]]'s leadership wanted to remove both Charest and Manning, and unite the Reform and Progressive Conservative parties under Harper's leadership.<ref>Susan Delacourt, "Charest, Manning dismiss reports of parties' merging", ''Globe and Mail'', April 4, 1995, pg. A5</ref>

Despite his prominent position in the party, Harper's relationship with the Reform Party leadership was frequently strained. In early 1994, he criticized a party decision to establish a personal expense account for Manning at a time when other Reform MPs had been asked to forego parliamentary perquisites.<ref>Geoffrey York, "Reform MPs snarl at party rebuke", ''Globe and Mail'', April 8, 1994, pg. A4</ref> He was formally rebuked by the Reform executive council despite winning support from some MPs. His relationship with Manning grew increasingly fractious in the mid-1990s, and he pointedly declined to express any opinion on Manning's leadership during a 1996 interview.<ref>Edward Greenspon, "Reform's renewal off to slow start", ''Globe and Mail'', August 1, 1996, A4; Edward Greenspon, "Manning seeks to repeat party's surge", ''Globe and Mail'', August 2, 1996, pg. A4</ref> This friction was indicative of a fundamental divide between the two men: Harper was strongly committed to conservative principles and opposed Manning's inclinations toward [[populism]], which Harper saw as leading to compromise on core ideological matters.<ref>{{cite news |last=Whyte |first=Kenneth |author-link=Kenneth Whyte |title=That Manning and Harper would clash has always been a safe bet |newspaper=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto |date=April 9, 1994|page=D2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ibbitson |first=John |author-link=John Ibbitson |title=Who is Stephen Harper? |date=January 14, 2006 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060114.wxibbitson14/BNStory/specialNewTory2006/national/?pageRequested=all |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116025756/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060114.wxibbitson14/BNStory/specialNewTory2006/national/?pageRequested=all |archive-date=January 16, 2009 }}
</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Harper, Manning and the path to power|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/harper-manning-and-the-path-to-power/article762818/|access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref>

These tensions culminated in late 1996 when Harper announced that he would not be a candidate in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|next federal election]]. He resigned his parliamentary seat on January 14, 1997, the same day that he was appointed as a vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition (NCC), a conservative think-tank and advocacy group.<ref>"Stephen Harper named A NCC Vice-President", ''Canada NewsWire'', January 14, 1997</ref> He was promoted to NCC president later in the year.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The old Stephen Harper was preferable|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-old-stephen-harper-was-preferable/article725045/|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref>

In April 1997, Harper suggested that the Reform Party was drifting toward social conservatism and ignoring the principles of [[Fiscal conservatism|economic conservatism]].<ref>Thomas Walkom, No title [Second of Five Parts], ''Toronto Star'', April 6, 1997, pg. A1</ref> The Liberal Party lost seats but managed to retain a narrow majority government in the 1997 federal election, while Reform made only modest gains.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilson-Smith|first=Anthony|title=Distinct Societies {{!}} Maclean's {{!}} June 9, 1997|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1997/6/9/distinct-societies|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=Maclean's {{!}} The Complete Archive|language=en-US|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602221310/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1997/6/9/distinct-societies}}</ref>

===Out of parliament (1997–2001)===
Soon after leaving Parliament, Harper and Tom Flanagan co-authored an opinion piece entitled "Our [[Enlightened absolutism|Benign Dictatorship]]", which argued that the Liberal Party only retained power through a dysfunctional political system and a divided opposition. Harper and Flanagan argued that federal conservative governments between 1917 and 1993 were founded on temporary alliances between Western populists and [[Quebec nationalism|Quebec nationalists]], and were unable to govern because of their fundamental contradictions. The authors called for an alliance of Canada's conservative parties, and suggested that meaningful political change might require electoral reforms such as [[proportional representation]]. "Our Benign Dictatorship" also commended [[Conrad Black]]'s purchase of the [[Southam Newspapers|Southam]] newspaper chain, arguing that his stewardship would provide for a "pluralistic" editorial view to counter the "monolithically liberal and [[feminism|feminist]]" approach of the previous management.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Harper|first1=Stephen|last2=Flanagan|first2=Tom|title=Our benign dictatorship|url=http://www.nextcity.com/main/town/6dictat.htm|website=Next City|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980529111958/http://www.nextcity.com/main/town/6dictat.htm|archive-date=May 29, 1998|date=1997}}</ref>

Harper remained active in constitutional issues. He was a prominent opponent of the [[Calgary Declaration]] on national unity in late 1997, describing it as an "appeasement strategy" against Quebec nationalism. He called for federalist politicians to reject this strategy, and approach future constitutional talks from the position that "Quebec separatists are the problem and they need to be fixed".<ref>Susan Delacourt, "Seeds planted for opposition to unity plan", ''Globe and Mail'', September 18, 1997, pg. A1</ref> In late 1999, Harper called for the federal government to establish clear rules for any future Quebec referendum on sovereignty.<ref>Stephen Harper, "Why Chrétien mustn't flag", ''Globe and Mail'', December 2, 1999, pg. A17</ref> Some have identified Harper's views as an influence on the Chrétien government's ''[[Clarity Act]]''.<ref>Chantal Hebert, "Harper takes pragmatic approach to Quebec", ''Toronto Star'', April 26, 2002, pg. A25</ref>

As president of the National Citizens Coalition (NCC) from 1998 to 2002, Harper launched an ultimately unsuccessful [[Harper v. Canada (Attorney General)|legal battle]] against federal election laws restricting third-party advertising.<ref>Daniel Leblanc, "Groups vow to fight new election bill", ''Globe and Mail'', June 8, 1999, pg. A4; "Gagged by statute", ''National Post'', June 8, 2000, pg. A19</ref> He led the NCC in several campaigns against the [[Canadian Wheat Board]],<ref>National Citizen's Coalition, "NCC To Back New Court Challenge To Wheat Board Monopoly", ''Canada NewsWire'', February 9, 1998, 11:15 report; National Citizen's Coalition, "NCC to blitz prairies with anti-Wheat Board radio ads", ''Canada NewsWire'', August 25, 1999</ref> and supported Finance Minister [[Paul Martin]]'s 2000 tax cuts as a positive first step toward tax reform.<ref>no title, ''Toronto Star'', February 29, 2000, p. 1</ref>

In 1997, Harper delivered a controversial speech on [[Canadian identity]] to the [[Council for National Policy]], a conservative American [[think tank]]. He made comments such as "Canada is a Northern European [[welfare state]] in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it", "if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians", and "the [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|NDP]] [New Democratic Party] is kind of proof that the Devil lives and interferes in the affairs of men."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051221045338/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/ Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech], CTV.ca, December 14, 2005</ref> These statements were made public and criticized during the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 election]]. Harper argued that the speech was intended as humour, and not as serious analysis.<ref>Susan Riley, "Harper's suspect evolution", December 16, 2005, pg. A18</ref>

Harper considered campaigning for the Progressive Conservative Party leadership in 1998, after Jean Charest left federal politics. Among those encouraging his candidacy were senior aides to Ontario [[Premier of Ontario|Premier]] [[Mike Harris]], including [[Tony Clement]] and [[Tom Long (politician)|Tom Long]].<ref>Jack Aubry, "Battle lines being drawn up for ideological heart of Tories", ''Hamilton Spectator'', April 7, 1998, pg. C3; [[David Frum]] was also mentioned as a possible supporter.</ref> He eventually decided against running, arguing that it would "burn bridges to those Reformers with whom I worked for many years" and prevent an alliance of right-wing parties from taking shape.<ref>Scott Feschuk, "Harper rejects run at Tory leadership", ''Globe and Mail'', April 10, 1998, pg. A1</ref> Harper was sceptical about the Reform Party's [[United Alternative]] initiative in 1999, arguing that it would serve to consolidate Manning's hold on the party leadership.<ref>Rosemary Spiers, "Preston Manning's fork in the road", ''Toronto Star'', February 18, 1999, p. 1; "But who will lead it?", ''Globe and Mail'', February 22, 1999, pg. A10</ref> He also expressed concern that the UA would dilute Reform's ideological focus.<ref>Michael Taube, "United Alternative needs policy, not Reform party lite", ''Hamilton Spectator'', February 25, 1999, pg. A14</ref>

When the United Alternative created the Canadian Alliance in 2000 as a successor party to Reform, Harper predicted that [[Stockwell Day]] would defeat Preston Manning for the new party's leadership. He expressed reservations about Day's abilities, however, and accused Day of "[making] adherence to his social views a [[litmus test (politics)|litmus test]] to determine whether you're in the party or not".<ref>Tim Harper, "Bible belts", ''Toronto Star'', June 17, 2000, p. 1</ref> Harper endorsed Tom Long for the leadership, arguing that Long was best suited to take support from the Progressive Conservative Party.<ref>"That sound you hear is the shifting of conservative ground", April 21, 2000, ''Globe and Mail'', pg. A12</ref> When Day placed first on the first ballot, Harper said that the Canadian Alliance was shifting "more towards being a party of the [[Christian right|religious right]]".<ref>Paul Adams, "Front-runner rides tide of religious conservatism", ''Globe and Mail'', June 26, 2000, pg. A1</ref>

After the death of Pierre Trudeau in 2000, Harper wrote an editorial criticizing Trudeau's policies as they affected Western Canada. He wrote that Trudeau "embraced the fashionable causes of his time, with variable enthusiasm and differing results", but "took a pass" on the issues that "truly defined his century".<ref>Stephen Harper, "On second thought", ''National Post'', October 5, 2000, pg. A18</ref> Harper subsequently accused Trudeau of promoting "unabashed socialism", and argued that Canadian governments between 1972 and 2002 had restricted [[economic growth]] through "state corporatism".<ref>Stephen Harper, "Get the state out of the economy", ''National Post'', February 8, 2002, pg. A14</ref>

After the Canadian Alliance's poor showing in the [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000 election]], Harper joined with other Western conservatives in co-authoring a document called the "[[Alberta Agenda]]". The letter called on Alberta to reform publicly funded health care, replace the [[Canada Pension Plan]] with a provincial plan and replace the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] with a provincial police force. It became known as the "firewall letter", because it called on the provincial government to "build firewalls around Alberta" to stop the federal government from redistributing its wealth to less affluent regions.<ref>[https://www.albertaresidentsleague.com/How/AlbertaAgendaLetter.htm Stephen Harper, Tom Flanagan et al., "The Alberta Agenda"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041118224309/http://www.albertaresidentsleague.com/How/AlbertaAgendaLetter.htm |date=November 18, 2004 }}, ''National Post'', January 26, 2001, A14.</ref> Alberta [[Premier of Alberta|Premier]] [[Ralph Klein]] agreed with some of the letter's recommendations, but distanced himself from the "firewall" comments.<ref>Jill Mahoney, "No 'firewall' needed around Alberta, Klein says", ''Globe and Mail'', February 8, 2001, A9.</ref>

Harper also wrote an editorial in late 2000 arguing that Alberta and the rest of Canada were "embark[ing] on divergent and potentially hostile paths to defining their country". He said that Alberta had chosen the "best of Canada's heritage—a combination of American enterprise and individualism with the British traditions of order and co-operation" while Canada "appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country&nbsp;... led by a second-world strongman appropriately suited for the task". He also called for a "stronger and much more autonomous Alberta", while rejecting calls for [[Alberta separatism|separatism]].<ref>Stephen Harper, "Separation, Alberta-style: It is time to seek a new relationship with Canada", ''National Post'', December 8, 2000, A18.</ref> In the [[2001 Alberta general election|2001 Alberta provincial election]], Harper led the NCC in a "Vote Anything but Liberal" campaign.<ref>National Citizens Coalition, "NCC Ad Campaign Urges Albertans Not to Vote Liberal", ''Canada NewsWire'', February 13, 2001, 11:45 report.</ref> Some articles from this period described him as a possible successor to Klein.<ref>Chantal Hebert, "Alberta, Quebec sing from same complaint book", ''Toronto Star'', February 14, 2001, p. 1.</ref>

Harper and the NCC endorsed a private school [[tax credit]] proposed by Ontario's [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] government in 2001, arguing that it would "save about $7,000 for each student who does not attend a [[trade union|union]]-run public school". [[Minister of Education (Ontario)|Education Minister]] [[Janet Ecker]] criticized this, saying that her government's intent was not to save money at the expense of public education.<ref>Richard Mackie, "School tax-credit plan hailed as a money saver", ''Globe and Mail'', June 19, 2001, A5.</ref>

Day's leadership of the Canadian Alliance became increasingly troubled throughout the summer of 2001, as several party MPs called for his resignation. In June, the ''[[National Post]]'' newspaper reported that former Reform MP [[Ian McClelland]] was organizing a possible leadership challenge on Harper's behalf.<ref>Sheldon Alberts, "Harper mounts campaign to lead the right: Behind the scenes", ''National Post'', June 30, 2001, pg. A06</ref> Harper announced his resignation from the NCC presidency in August 2001, to prepare a campaign.<ref>National Citizen's Coalition, "Stephen Harper to Step Down as NCC President", ''Canada NewsWire'', August 13, 2001</ref>

===Leader of the Canadian Alliance (2002–2003)===
Stockwell Day called a new Canadian Alliance leadership race for 2002, and soon declared himself a candidate. Harper emerged as Day's main rival, and declared his own candidacy on December 3, 2001. He eventually won the support of at least 28 Alliance MPs,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Number 28 for Harper|publisher=Canada NewsWire|date=March 6, 2002}}</ref> including [[Scott Reid (politician)|Scott Reid]], [[James Rajotte]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Six Alliance MPs declare or reaffirm support for Harper's leadership bid|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|date=December 7, 2001}}</ref> and [[Keith Martin (politician)|Keith Martin]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Five More MPs endorse Harper|publisher=Canada NewsWire|date=February 20, 2002}}</ref> During the campaign, Harper reprised his earlier warnings against an alliance with Quebec nationalists, and called for his party to become the federalist option in Quebec.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Harper|title=A vision of federalism for all Canadians|newspaper=National Post|date=January 19, 2002|page=A18}}</ref> He argued that "the French language is not imperilled in Quebec", and opposed "special status" for the province in the [[Canadian Constitution|Canadian constitution]] accordingly.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Arpon|last=Basu|title=Alliance candidate Stephen Harper says French not threatened in Quebec|publisher=Canadian Press|date=January 19, 2002}}</ref> He also endorsed greater provincial autonomy on [[Medicare (Canada)|Medicare]], and said that he would not co-operate with the Progressive Conservatives as long as they were led by Joe Clark.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Brian|last=Laghi|title=Harper launches campaign|work=The Globe and Mail|date=December 4, 2001|page=A8}}</ref> On social issues, Harper argued for "parental rights" to use [[corporal punishment]] against their children and supported raising the age of sexual consent.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Brian|last=Laghi|title=Harper campaigns on social issues|work=The Globe and Mail|date=February 21, 2002|page=A4}}</ref> He described his potential support base as "similar to what [[George W. Bush|George Bush]] tapped".<ref>{{Cite news|first=Ian|last=Hunter|title=The cult of policy|work=The Globe and Mail|date=March 7, 2002|page=A19}}</ref>

The tone of the leadership contest turned hostile in February 2002. Harper described Day's governance of the party as "amateurish",<ref>"No more Mr. Nice Guy in Alliance leadership race", ''Kitchener-Waterloo Record'', February 4, 2002, pg. A3</ref> while his campaign team argued that Day was attempting to win re-election by building a narrow support base among different groups in the religious right.<ref>Robert Fife, "Day accused of courting evangelicals", ''National Post'', February 9, 2002, pg. A06</ref> The Day campaign accused Harper of "attacking ethnic and religious minorities".<ref>Campbell Clark, "Harper attacking minorities, Day leadership camp charges", ''Globe and Mail'', February 12, 2002, pg. A12</ref> In early March, the two candidates had an especially fractious debate on [[CBC Newsworld]].<ref>Brian Laghi, "Harper, Day swap insults in debate", ''Globe and Mail'', March 8, 2002, pg. A4</ref> The leadership vote was held on March 20, 2002. Harper was elected on the first ballot with 55% support, against 37% for Day. Two other candidates split the remainder.

After winning the party leadership, Harper announced his intention to run for parliament in a by-election in Calgary Southwest, recently vacated by Preston Manning. [[Ezra Levant]] had been chosen as the riding's Alliance candidate and declared that he would not stand aside for Harper; he later reconsidered.<ref>Dawn Walton, "Rookie Levant ready to run", ''Globe and Mail'', March 28, 2002, pg. A8; Sheldon Alberts, "'Troubled' Levant lets Harper run", ''National Post'', March 29, 2002, pg. A01</ref> The Liberals did not field a candidate, following a parliamentary tradition of allowing opposition leaders to enter the House of Commons unopposed. The Progressive Conservative candidate, [[Jim Prentice]], also chose to withdraw.<ref>"Alliance leader won't face Tories in byelection bid", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', March 31, 2002, pg. A8</ref> Harper was elected without difficulty over New Democrat [[Bill Phipps]], a former [[United Church of Canada]] moderator. Harper told a reporter during the campaign that he "despise[d]" Phipps, and declined to debate him.<ref>Jeffrey Simpson, "He makes Harper think uncharitable thoughts", ''Globe and Mail'', May 7, 2002, pg. A19; Phipps later said that he was "shocked" by Harper's language. See Louise Elliott, "NDP candidate slams Alliance leader for personal comment, refusal to debate", ''Canadian Press'', May 9, 2002,</ref>

Harper officially became the [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|leader of the Official Opposition]] in May 2002. Later in the same month, he said that the [[Atlantic Provinces]] were trapped in "a culture of defeat" which had to be overcome, the result of policies designed by Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments. Many Atlantic politicians condemned the remark as patronizing and insensitive. The [[Legislature of Nova Scotia]] unanimously approved a motion condemning Harper's comments,<ref>Brian Laghi, "Motion by MLAs condemns Harper", ''Globe and Mail'', May 31, 2002, pg. A5; The motion was brought forward by Nova Scotia NDP leader [[Darrell Dexter]].</ref> which were also criticized by [[Premier of New Brunswick|New Brunswick premier]], [[Bernard Lord]], federal Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark and others. Harper refused to apologize, and said that much of Canada was trapped by the same "can't-do" attitude.<ref>Louise Elliott, "Harper calls Canada a nation of defeatists, defends remark about easterners", ''Canadian Press'', May 29, 2002, 17:23 report; Brian Laghi, "Premiers tell Harper his attack was wrong", ''Globe and Mail'', May 30, 2002, pg. A8</ref>

In March 2003, their speeches in favour gaining no traction in Parliament, Harper and Stockwell Day co-wrote a letter to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' in which they condemned the Canadian government's unwillingness to participate in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=771117 |title=Edited Hansard * Table of Contents * Number 074 (Official Version) |publisher=Parl.gc.ca |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Beers|url=http://www.tommydouglas.ca/news/2006/01/24/no-bush-please-were-canadian|title=No Bush, please&nbsp;— we're Canadian|agency=Salon.com|publisher=Tommy Douglas Research Institute|date=January 25, 2006|access-date=February 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602123220/http://www.tommydouglas.ca/news/2006/01/24/no-bush-please-were-canadian|archive-date=June 2, 2008}}</ref>

As party leader, Harper sought to merge the Alliance with the Progressive Conservatives (PCs) to create a united [[right-of-centre]] party. The possibility of a united conservative party increased after [[Peter Mackay]] was [[2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election|elected]] Progressive Conservative leader in May 2003. On October 16, 2003, Harper and Mackay agreed to merge the two parties to form the [[Conservative Party of Canada]]. After 95 percent of Alliance members voted in favour of merging with the PCs and 90 percent of 2,486 PC delegates voted in favour of merging with the Alliance, the Conservative Party of Canada was founded on December 7, 2003.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Unite the right: Timeline |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/conservativeparty/uniteright_timeline.html |website=CBC News |access-date=July 11, 2022}}</ref>

===Leader of the Conservative Party ===
{{see also|2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election}}
On January 12, 2004, Harper announced his resignation as the leader of the Official Opposition in order to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. Harper was elected the first leader of the Conservative Party, with a first ballot majority against [[Belinda Stronach]] and Tony Clement on March 20, 2004. Harper's victory included strong showings outside of Western Canada.<ref name="cpac092613">{{cite news |title=2004 Conservative Leadership Convention |url=https://www.cpac.ca/en/2004-conservative-leadership/# |access-date=October 29, 2020 |work=CPAC |date=September 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="2004ridings">{{cite web |title=Breakdown by riding |url=http://www.conservative.ca/display.asp?doc_id=65 |publisher=Conservative Party of Canada |access-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040324015621/http://www.conservative.ca/display.asp?doc_id=65 |archive-date=March 24, 2004}}</ref>

====2004 federal election====
{{main|2004 Canadian federal election}}
Harper led the Conservatives into the 2004 federal election. Initially, new prime minister Paul Martin held a large lead in polls, but this eroded because of infighting, [[Sponsorship scandal|Adscam]] (a [[scandal]] that came as a result of a [[Government of Canada]] "[[Sponsor (commercial)|sponsorship]] program" in the province of Quebec and involving the Liberal Party of Canada) and other scandals surrounding his government. The Liberals attempted to counter this with an early election call, as this would give the Conservatives less time to consolidate their merger.<ref name="nasty2004">{{cite news |last1=Wells |first1=Paul |title=The Inside Story Of Canada's Nastiest Campaign |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2004/7/12/the-inside-story-of-canadas-nastiest-campaign |access-date=October 22, 2020 |work=Maclean's |date=July 12, 2004 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026180511/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2004/7/12/the-inside-story-of-canadas-nastiest-campaign }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Copps's battle a symptom of Liberal infighting|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/coppss-battle-a-symptom-of-liberal-infighting/article4086237/|access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 2005|title=2004 General Election|url=https://www.elections.ca/res/eim/pdf/insight_2005_01_e.pdf}}</ref>

This, along with an unpopular provincial budget by Liberal Premier [[Dalton McGuinty]] in Ontario, moved the Conservatives into a lead for a time.<ref name=nasty2004/> However, comments by Conservative MPs, leaked press releases accusing the then prime minister of supporting [[child pornography]], as well as [[attack ad]]s suggesting that the Conservatives had a secret agenda, caused Harper's party to lose some momentum.<ref name="np042111">{{cite news |title=Are MP's remarks like 2004 again for Harper? |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/are-mps-remarks-like-2004-again-for-harper |access-date=October 22, 2020 |work=National Post |publisher=Postmedia |date=April 21, 2011}}</ref><ref name="cbc062004">{{cite news |title=Stephen Harper's campaign mistake - CBC Archives |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/stephen-harpers-campaign-mistake |access-date=October 22, 2020 |date=June 20, 2004 |work=CBC Television |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref name="po030106">{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Johnathan |title=The Liberals reap what they sow: why their negative ads failed |url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/fr/magazines/the-prime-minister/the-liberals-reap-what-they-sow-why-their-negative-ads-failed/ |access-date=October 22, 2020 |work=Policy Options |date=March 1, 2006}}</ref>

The Liberals were re-elected to power with a minority government, with the Conservatives coming in second place. The Conservatives managed to make inroads into the Liberals' Ontario stronghold, primarily in the province's socially conservative central region. However, they were shut out of Quebec, marking the first time that a centre-right party did not win any seats in that province. Harper, after some personal deliberation, decided to stay on as the party leader.<ref name="cbc120319">{{cite news |last1=Barton |first1=Rosemary |author-link1=Rosemary Barton |title=Why Scheer's defenders are pointing to the 2004 election now — and why the argument doesn't hold up |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/andrew-scheer-1.5382443 |access-date=October 21, 2020 |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=December 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 1, 2004|title=What should the Conservatives do next?|url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/fr/magazines/the-2004-federal-election/what-should-the-conservatives-do-next/|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=Policy Options|language=en}}</ref>

=====Agreement with the BQ and the NDP=====
Two months after the federal election, Harper privately met [[Bloc Québécois]] leader [[Gilles Duceppe]] and New Democratic Party leader [[Jack Layton]] in a Montreal hotel.<ref name=gazetteCo-Opposition/> On September 9, 2004, the three signed a letter addressed to the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]], [[Adrienne Clarkson]], stating, "We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blocquebecois.org/dossiers/campagne-2011/documents/9-09-2004-lettre_des_chefs_au_Gouverneur_general.pdf |access-date=April 25, 2011 |title=Letter to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328212803/http://www.blocquebecois.org/dossiers/campagne-2011/documents/9-09-2004-lettre_des_chefs_au_Gouverneur_general.pdf |archive-date=March 28, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/deception-thy-name-is-harper-118898409.html|work=Winnipeg Free Press|author=Frances Russell|title=Deception, thy name is Harper|date=March 30, 2011|access-date=April 25, 2011}}</ref> On the same day the letter was written, the three party leaders held a joint press conference at which they expressed their intent to co-operate on changing parliamentary rules, and to request that the governor general consult with them before deciding to call an election.<ref name=Harpercoalition>{{cite news|last=Chung|first=Andrew|title=Bloc leader accuses Harper of lying about coalition|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/962240--bloc-leader-accuses-harper-of-lying-about-coalition?bn=1|access-date=March 27, 2011|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=March 26, 2011}}</ref> At the news conference, Harper said, "It is the Parliament that's supposed to run the country, not just the largest party and the single leader of that party. That's a criticism I've had and that we've had and that most Canadians have had for a long, long time now so this is an opportunity to start to change that." At the time, Harper and the two other opposition leaders denied trying to form a [[coalition government]].<ref name=gazetteCo-Opposition>{{cite news|title=Harper, Layton, Duceppe sought 'co-opposition' in 2004 letter to GG |url=http://www.canada.com/news/Harper+Layton+Duceppe+sought+opposition+2004+letter/4511865/story.html#ixzz1Htw6yDVP |newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]] |date=March 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401200203/http://www.canada.com/news/Harper%2BLayton%2BDuceppe%2Bsought%2Bopposition%2B2004%2Bletter/4511865/story.html |archive-date=April 1, 2011 }}</ref> Harper said, "This is not a coalition, but this is a co-operative effort."<ref name=Harpercoalition/>

On October 4, [[Mike Duffy]], who was later appointed as a Conservative senator by Harper, said: "It is possible that you could change prime minister without having an election." He added that some Conservatives wanted Harper to temporarily become prime minister without holding an election. The next day, Layton walked out on talks with Harper and Duceppe, accusing them of trying to replace Paul Martin with Harper as prime minister. Both Bloc and Conservative officials denied Layton's accusations.<ref name=gazetteCo-Opposition/> On March 26, 2011, Duceppe stated that Harper had tried to form a coalition government with the Bloc and NDP in response to Harper's allegations that the Liberals may form a coalition with the Bloc and the NDP.<ref>{{cite news|last=Payton|first=Laura|title=Harper wanted 2004 coalition: Duceppe|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-wanted-2004-coalition-duceppe-1.1118390|access-date=March 26, 2011|newspaper=CBC News|date=March 26, 2011}}</ref>

====Leader of the Opposition====
The Conservative Party's first policy convention was held from March 17 to 19, 2005, in [[Montreal]]. Harper had been rumoured to be shifting his ideology closer to that of a [[Blue Tory]], and many thought he'd wanted to move the party's policies closer to the centre. Any opposition to abortion or bilingualism was dropped from the Conservative platform. Harper received an 84% endorsement from delegates in the [[leadership review]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 14, 2012|title=Looking Down From Canada: The Most Important Leader in the Free World: Stephen Harper|url=https://www.ottawalife.com/article/looking-down-from-canada-the-most-important-leader-in-the-free-world-stephen-harper}}</ref>

Despite the party abandoning debate over the two controversial issues, they began a concerted drive against same-sex marriage. Harper was criticized by a group of law professors for arguing that the government could override the provincial court rulings on same-sex marriage without using the "[[Section Thirty-three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms|notwithstanding clause]]", a provision of the ''[[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]''.<ref name="gm011905">{{cite news |title=Tories to launch anti-gay marriage ads |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/tories-to-launch-anti-gay-marriage-ads/article1113195/ |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=January 19, 2005}}</ref> He also argued, in general, for lower taxes, an elected [[Senate of Canada|Senate]], a tougher stance on crime, and closer relations with the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sarro|first=Douglas|date=2013|title=Breaking the Bargain: A Comment on the Constitutional Validity of Bill C-7, the Proposed Senate Reform Act|url=https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1254&context=clpe}}</ref>

Following the April 2005 release of [[Jean Brault]]'s damaging testimony at the [[Gomery Commission]], implicating the Liberals in the scandal, opinion polls placed the Conservatives ahead of Liberals.<ref name="sink42505">{{cite news |last1=Geddes |first1=John |title=The Incredible Sinking Prime Minister |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2005/4/25/the-incredible-sinking-prime-minister |access-date=October 25, 2020 |work=Maclean's |date=April 25, 2005 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026224443/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2005/4/25/the-incredible-sinking-prime-minister }}</ref> The Conservatives had earlier abstained from the vote on the [[Canadian federal budget, 2005|2005 budget]] to avoid forcing an election.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Palmer|first=Randall|date=March 13, 2008|title=Canadians don't want election now, opposition says|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/canada-confidence-can-col-idCAN1331774120080313|access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref> With the collapse in Liberal support and a controversial NDP amendment to the budget, the party exerted significant pressure on Harper to bring down the government.<ref name="cbc062405">{{cite news |title=Commons amends budget in surprise midnight vote |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/commons-amends-budget-in-surprise-midnight-vote-1.558125 |access-date=October 25, 2020 |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=June 24, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 1, 2011|first=Tom|last=Flanagan |title=The emerging Conservative coalition|url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/the-winner/the-emerging-conservative-coalition/|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=Policy Options|language=en}}</ref> In May, Harper announced that Martin's Liberals had lost the "moral authority to govern".<ref name="nyt051105">{{cite news |last1=Krauss |first1=Clifford |title=Canadian Leader Rejects a No-Confidence Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/world/americas/canadian-leader-rejects-a-noconfidence-vote.html |access-date=October 25, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=May 11, 2005}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois united to defeat the government on a vote that some considered to be either a [[confidence motion]] or else a motion requiring an immediate test of the confidence of the House.<ref name="dam53005">{{cite news |last1=Bryden |first1=Joan |title=Damaged Goods |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2005/5/30/damaged-goods |access-date=October 25, 2020 |work=Maclean's |date=May 30, 2005 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027145912/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2005/5/30/damaged-goods }}</ref> The Martin government did not accept this interpretation and argued that vote had been on a procedural motion, although they also indicated that they would bring forward their revised budget for a confidence vote the following week. Ultimately, the effort to bring down the Martin government failed following the decision of Conservative MP Belinda Stronach to [[crossing the floor|cross the floor]] to the Liberal Party. The vote on the NDP amendment to the budget tied, and with the [[Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada|speaker of the House]] voting to continue the debate, the Liberals stayed in power. At the time, some considered the matter to be a [[constitutional crisis]].<ref name=dam53005/><ref name="Heard, Andrew, The Confidence Convention and the May 2005 Vote on the Public Accounts Committee Report">{{cite web|url=https://www.sfu.ca/~aheard/conventions.html|title=The Confidence Convention and the May 2005 Vote on the Public Accounts Committee Report|publisher=Sfu.ca|access-date=April 20, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Bliss, Michael">{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=65646089-29b3-4e73-a227-01b1032257cd|title=National Post, May&nbsp;14, 2005|publisher=Canada.com|access-date=April 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425105414/http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=65646089-29b3-4e73-a227-01b1032257cd|archive-date=April 25, 2011}}</ref>

Harper was also criticized for supporting his caucus colleague MP [[Gurmant Grewal]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Peter|last=O'Neil|url=http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40089|title=Is he telling the truth? Doubts linger about Gurmant Grewal|location=Ottawa|publisher=Free Dominion|date=May 28, 2005|access-date=February 15, 2009|archive-date=January 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108180705/http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40089}}</ref> Grewal had produced tapes of conversations with [[Tim Murphy (Canadian politician)|Tim Murphy]], Paul Martin's chief of staff, in which Grewal claimed he had been offered a cabinet position in exchange for his defection.<ref name=cbc053105>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/grewal-releases-secret-tapes-1.546243 |title=Grewal releases secret tapes |date=May 31, 2005 |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref>

The Liberals' support dropped sharply after the first report from the Gomery Commission was issued, but rebounded soon after.<ref name=flawless6>{{cite journal | last1=Clarke | first1=Harold D. | last2=Kornberg | first2=Allan | last3=Scotto | first3=Thomas | last4=Twyman | first4=Joe | title=Flawless Campaign, Fragile Victory: Voting in Canada's 2006 Federal Election | journal=PS: Political Science & Politics | publisher=Cambridge University Press (CUP) | volume=39 | issue=4 | date=October 2006 | issn=1049-0965 | doi=10.1017/s1049096506060987 | pages=815–819}}</ref> Later that month, Harper introduced a motion of no confidence on the Martin government, telling the House of Commons "that this government has lost the confidence of the House of Commons and needs to be removed". As the Liberals had lost NDP support in the house by refusing to accept an NDP plan to prevent health care privatization, the no-confidence motion was passed by a vote of 171–133. It was the first time that a Canadian government had been toppled by a straight motion of no confidence proposed by the opposition. As a result, Parliament was dissolved and a general election was scheduled for January 23, 2006.<ref name=flawless6/><ref name=jack1255>{{cite news |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2005/12/5/my-name-is-jack |title=My Name is Jack |date=December 5, 2005 |access-date=October 25, 2020 |work=Maclean's |last1=Geddes |first1=John |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027173639/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2005/12/5/my-name-is-jack }}</ref><ref name=cbc112805>{{cite news |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=November 28, 2005 |title=Liberals Lose Confidence of the House |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/liberals-lose-confidence-of-the-house-1.555183 |access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref>

On February 27, 2008, allegations surfaced that two Conservative Party officials offered terminally ill, independent MP [[Chuck Cadman#2005 Budget vote|Chuck Cadman]] a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote to bring down the Liberal government in a May 2005, budget vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080227.wcadmann0227/BNStory/National/home |title=Tories tried to sway vote of dying MP, widow alleges |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |access-date=February 27, 2008 |last1=Galloway |first2=Brian |last2=Laghi |first1=Gloria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302105906/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080227.wcadmann0227/BNStory/National/home |archive-date=March 2, 2008 }}</ref> If the story had been proved true, the actions may have been grounds for charges as a criminal offence as under the ''[[Criminal Code (Canada)|Criminal Code]]'', it is illegal to bribe an MP.<ref name=cbc-2008-02-27>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/conservatives-made-million-dollar-offer-to-mp-cadman-book-1.752439|title=Conservatives made million-dollar offer to MP Cadman: book|publisher=CBC News|date=February 27, 2008|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref>

When asked by Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk about the alleged life insurance offer then-opposition leader Stephen Harper states on an audio tape "I don't know the details. I know there were discussions"<ref name=investigate1>{{cite web|title=Liberals to RCMP: Investigate Tory bribe claims|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/liberals-to-rcmp-investigate-tory-bribe-claims-1.279487|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022151922/http://www.ctvnews.ca/liberals-to-rcmp-investigate-tory-bribe-claims-1.279487|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2012|publisher=CTV|date=February 28, 2008|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref> and goes on to say "The offer to Chuck was that it was only to replace financial considerations he might lose due to an election".<ref name=investigate1/> Harper also stated that he had told the Conservative Party representatives that they were unlikely to succeed. "I told them they were wasting their time. I said Chuck had made up his mind."<ref name=investigate1/><ref name=articlenews1>{{cite news|title=PM files libel suit, Dion refuses to apologize|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/pm-files-libel-suit-dion-refuses-to-apologize-1.282511|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018051615/http://www.ctvnews.ca/pm-files-libel-suit-dion-refuses-to-apologize-1.282511|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2012|publisher=[[CTV News]]|date=March 13, 2008|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref> In February 2008, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigated the allegations that Section 119's provisions on bribery and corruption in the ''Criminal Code'' had been violated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sympatico.msn.ca/Harper+heard+on+tape+discussing+financial+inducements+for+late+MP/National/ContentPosting.aspx?isfa=1&newsitemid=64918030&feedname=CP-NATIONAL&show=True&number=5&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True |title=Harper heard on tape discussing financial inducements for late MP |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=February 28, 2008 |last=Panetta |first=Alexander |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317003523/http://news.sympatico.msn.ca/Harper%2Bheard%2Bon%2Btape%2Bdiscussing%2Bfinancial%2Binducements%2Bfor%2Blate%2BMP/National/ContentPosting.aspx?isfa=1&newsitemid=64918030&feedname=CP-NATIONAL&show=True&number=5&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True |archive-date=March 17, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www3.thestar.com/static/PDF/080228_leblanc_letter.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324195038/http://www3.thestar.com/static/PDF/080228_leblanc_letter.pdf |archive-date=March 24, 2009 |title=Letter requesting investigation to RCMP Commissioner William Elliot |newspaper=The Toronto Star |access-date=March 1, 2008 |last=Leblanc |first=Dominic }}</ref> The RCMP concluded their investigation stating that there was no evidence for pressing charges.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/no-charges-to-be-laid-in-cadman-affair-rcmp-1.710397|title=No charges to be laid in Cadman affair: RCMP|publisher=CBC|date=May 16, 2008|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref>

Harper denied any wrongdoing and subsequently filed a civil [[libel]] suit against the Liberal Party. Because libel laws do not apply to statements made in Parliament, the basis of the lawsuit was that statements made by Liberal Party members outside the House of Commons and in articles which appeared on the Liberal Party web site made accusations that Harper had committed a criminal act.<ref name=articlenews1/><ref>{{cite news|title=Canada PM sues opposition for libel |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hAikrxtRRwV2q1-T8iS9LAvWpFxw |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=March 13, 2008 |access-date=March 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520125758/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hAikrxtRRwV2q1-T8iS9LAvWpFxw |archive-date=May 20, 2011 }}</ref>

The audio expert hired by Harper to prove that the tape containing the evidence was doctored reported that the latter part of the tape was recorded over, but the tape was unaltered where Harper's voice said "I don't know the details, I know that, um, there were discussions, um, but this is not for publication?" and goes on to say he "didn't know the details" when asked if he knew anything about the alleged offer to Cadman.<ref name=cbctape>{{cite news|agency=The Canadian Press|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/audio-expert-says-cadman-tape-not-altered-1.700925|title=Audio expert says Cadman tape not altered|publisher=cbc.ca|date=October 10, 2008|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref>

====2006 federal election====
{{main|2006 Canadian federal election}}
[[File:Harper,-Stephen-Jan-23-06.jpg|thumb|left|Stephen Harper giving a victory speech to party members in [[Calgary]] after the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives]] won the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]].]]
The Conservatives began the campaign period with a policy-per-day strategy, contrary to the Liberal plan of holding off major announcements until after the Christmas holidays, so Harper dominated media coverage for the first weeks of the election. Though his party showed only modest movement in the polls, Harper's personal numbers, which had always significantly trailed those of his party, began to rise. In response, the Liberals launched [[2006 Harper attack ads|negative ads targeting Harper]], similar to their attacks in the 2004 election. However, their tactics were not sufficient to erode the Conservative's advantage, although they did manage to close what had been a ten-point advantage in public opinion. As Harper's personal numbers rose, polls found he was now considered not only more trustworthy, but a better choice for prime minister than Martin.<ref>{{cite news|author=CTV.ca News Staff|title=Harper seen as most trusted leader, poll finds|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060111/ELXN_poll_060111/20060111?s_name=election2006&no_ads=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212082550/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060111/ELXN_poll_060111/20060111?s_name=election2006&no_ads=|archive-date=February 12, 2006|work=CTV.ca|date=January 11, 2005|access-date=September 21, 2006}}</ref>

Immediately prior to the Christmas break, in a faxed letter to NDP candidate [[Judy Wasylycia-Leis]], [[commissioner of the RCMP|RCMP commissioner]] [[Giuliano Zaccardelli]] announced the RCMP had opened a criminal investigation into her complaint that it appeared Liberal Finance Minister [[Ralph Goodale]]'s office had leaked information leading to [[insider trading]] before making an important announcement on the taxation of [[income trust]]s. On December 27, 2005, the RCMP confirmed that information in a press release. At the conclusion of the investigation, Serge Nadeau, a top civil servant in the [[Department of Finance (Canada)|Department of Finance]], was charged with criminal breach of trust. No charges were laid against Goodale.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/personalfinance/incometrust-probe-faqs.html|title=The Income Trusts Probe: FAQs|publisher=CBC.ca|date=February 15, 2007|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref>

The election gave Harper's Conservatives the largest number of seats in the House, although not enough for a majority government, and shortly after midnight on January 24, Martin conceded defeat. Later that day, Martin informed Governor General [[Michaëlle Jean]] that he would resign as prime minister, and at 6:45&nbsp;p.m. Jean asked Harper to form a government. Harper was sworn in as Canada's 22nd prime minister on February 6, 2006.

In his first address to Parliament as prime minister, Harper opened by paying tribute to the [[Monarchy of Canada|queen of Canada]], [[Elizabeth II]], and her "lifelong dedication to duty and self-sacrifice".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=Hansard&Mee=3&Language=e&Parl=39&Ses=1 |title=39th Parliament, First Session, Edited Hansard, No. 003, Wednesday, April&nbsp;5, 2006 |publisher=Parl.gc.ca |access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref> He also said before the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce that Canada and the United Kingdom were joined by "the golden circle of [[the Crown]], which links us all together with the majestic past that takes us back to the [[Tudors]], the Plantagenets, the [[Magna Carta]], ''[[habeas corpus]]'', petition of rights, and English [[common law]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1168 |title=Prime Minister Harper introduces Australian counterpart to Parliament |publisher=Pm.gc.ca |access-date=April 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329125220/http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1168 |archive-date=March 29, 2010}}</ref> Journalist Graham Fraser said in the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' that Harper's speech was "one of the most monarchist speeches a Canadian prime minister has given since [[John Diefenbaker]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155937810919&call_pageid=968332188774&col=Columnist969907621570|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121000/http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155937810919&call_pageid=968332188774&col=Columnist969907621570|archive-date=September 29, 2007|last=Fraser|first=Graham|work=Toronto Star|title=PM shucks Reform roots for a royal connection|date=August 19, 2006|access-date=April 20, 2010}}</ref> An analysis by [[Michael D. Behiels]] suggested that a political realignment might be underway, based on the continuance of Harper's government.<ref>Michael D. Behiels, "Stephen Harper's Rise to Power: Will His 'New' Conservative Party Become Canada's 'Natural Governing Party' of the Twenty-First Century?", ''American Review of Canadian Studies'' Vol. 40, No. 1, March 2010, pp. 118–145</ref>

After the election, the Conservative party were charged with improper election spending, in a case that became known as the [[In and Out scandal]]. It dragged on for years, but in 2012 they took a plea deal, admitting both improper spending and falsifying records to hide it.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Payton|first=Laura|date=November 10, 2011|title=Conservative Party fined for breaking election laws|work=[[CBC News]]|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-party-fined-for-breaking-election-laws-1.1076877|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref>

==Prime Minister of Canada (2006–2015)==
{{main|Premiership of Stephen Harper}}
[[File:Stephen Harper and George W. Bush July 6 2006.jpg|thumb|Harper with [[George W. Bush]], July 6, 2006.]]
===Elections===
====2008 federal election====
{{main|2008 Canadian federal election}}
On October 14, 2008, after a 5-week-long campaign, the Conservatives increased their seat count in Parliament to 143, up from 127 at the dissolution of the previous Parliament; however, the actual popular vote among Canadians dropped slightly by 167,494 votes. As a result of the lowest [[2008 Canadian federal election#Voter turnout|voter turnout]] in Canadian electoral history, this represented only 22% of eligible Canadian voters, the lowest level of support of any winning party in Canadian history.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.macleans.ca/2009/08/28/governing-with-consent|magazine=Maclean's|date=August 28, 2009|title=Governing with consent|access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, the number of opposition Liberal MPs fell from 95 to 77 seats. 155 MPs are required to form a majority government in Canada's 308-seat parliament, relegating Harper to minority government once again.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fox|first=Graham|date=November 2009|title=MAKING MINORITY GOVERNMENT WORK|url=http://irpp.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/po/health-care/fox.pdf|access-date=May 31, 2021|page=64}}</ref>

====2008 parliamentary dispute and prorogation====
{{main|2008–2009 Canadian parliamentary dispute}}
On December 4, 2008, Harper asked Governor General Michaëlle Jean to [[prorogation in Canada|prorogue]] Parliament to avoid a vote of confidence scheduled for the following Monday, becoming the first Canadian prime minister to do so.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=f38b74ff-43a0-4a67-b419-020a95933dd4|title=Harper running away from Parliament|newspaper=The Province|access-date=December 5, 2008|date=December 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215010951/http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=f38b74ff-43a0-4a67-b419-020a95933dd4|archive-date=February 15, 2012}}</ref> The request was granted by Jean, and the prorogation lasted until January 26, 2009. The opposition coalition dissolved shortly after, with the Conservatives winning a Liberal supported confidence vote on January 29, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Canadian Federal Election of 2011|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Canadian-Federal-Election-of-2011|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>

====2010 prorogation====
{{see also|2010 Canada anti-prorogation protests|Prorogation in Canada}}
[[File:Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper & Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean @ 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games Heads of State Reception.jpg|thumb|right|Prime Minister Stephen Harper and [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Michaëlle Jean]] at [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games]] Heads of State Reception.]]

On December 30, 2009, Harper announced that he would request the governor general to prorogue Parliament again, effective immediately on the same day, during the 2010 Winter Olympics and lasting until March 3, 2010. Harper stated that this was necessary for Canada's economic plan. Jean granted the request. In an interview with [[CBC News]], [[Prince Edward Island]] Liberal MP [[Wayne Easter]] accused the prime minister of "shutting democracy down".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news2/pointofview/2009/12/parliament-prorogued-neccessary-move-or-an-insult-to-democracy.html|title=Parliament prorogued: Necessary move or undemocratic?|date=December 30, 2009|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pm-shutting-democracy-down-says-easter-1.829799|title=PM 'shutting democracy down', says Easter|date=December 31, 2009|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref> Tom Flanagan, Harper's University of Calgary mentor and former chief of staff, also questioned Harper's reasoning for prorogation, stating that "I think the government's talking points haven't been entirely credible" and that the government's explanation of proroguing was "skirting the real issue—which is the harm the opposition parties are trying to do to the Canadian Forces" regarding the [[Canadian Afghan detainee issue]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/gov-t-not-credible-on-proroguing-ex-harper-advisor-1.472953|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730051508/http://www.ctvnews.ca/gov-t-not-credible-on-proroguing-ex-harper-advisor-1.472953|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 30, 2012|title=Gov't not 'credible' on proroguing: ex-Harper advisor|publisher=CTV News|date=January 12, 2010|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref> Small demonstrations took place on January 23 in 64 Canadian cities and towns and five cities in other countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/746068|title=Grassroots fury greets shuttered Parliament|last=Delacourt|first=Susan|author2=Richard J. Brennan |date=January 5, 2010|access-date=January 20, 2010|work=Toronto Star}}</ref> A [[Facebook]] protest group attracted over 20,000 members.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/thousands-protest-parliament-s-suspension-1.866970|title=Thousands protest Parliament's suspension|date=January 23, 2010|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=January 24, 2010}}</ref>

A poll released by [[Angus Reid Public Opinion|Angus Reid]] on January 7, found that 53 per cent of respondents were opposed to the prorogation, while 19 per cent supported it. 38 per cent believed Harper used the prorogation to curtail the Afghan detainee inquiry, while 23 per cent agreed with Harper's explanation that the prorogation was necessary economically.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prorogation hurtles 'out of dusty law texts into the mainstream'|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/prorogation-has-hit-a-nerve/article1422003|date=January 7, 2010|work=The Globe and Mail|first=Gloria|last=Galloway|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-date=April 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401003528/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/prorogation-has-hit-a-nerve/article1422003/}}</ref>

====2011 vote of no confidence====
Harper's Cabinet was defeated in a no-confidence vote on March 25, 2011, after being found in contempt of Parliament. Harper thus, in accordance with constitutional convention, advised the governor general to call a [[2011 Canadian federal election|general election]].<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/government-s-defeat-sets-up-election-call-1.1068749 Government's defeat sets up election call]. ''CBC News'', March 25, 2011</ref> This was the first occurrence in [[Contempt of Parliament#Contempt citation cases for governments|Commonwealth history]] of a government in the Westminster parliamentary tradition losing the confidence of the [[lower house]] on the grounds of contempt of parliament. The no-confidence motion was carried with a vote of 156 in favour of the motion and 145 against.<ref>[http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=5072532&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3#Div-204 "Business of Supply (Division 204)"]. 40th Parliament, 3rd Session&nbsp;– Edited Hansard, No. 149, March 25, 2011. The motion presented by the Leader of the Opposition was "That the House agree with the finding of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs that the government is in contempt of Parliament, which is unprecedented in Canadian parliamentary history, and consequently, the House has lost confidence in the government."</ref>

====2011 federal election====
{{main|2011 Canadian federal election}}
On May 2, 2011, after a five-week campaign, Harper led the Conservatives to their third consecutive election victory—the first time a centre-right party has accomplished this in half a century. The Conservatives increased their standing in parliament to 166, up from 143 at the dissolution of the previous parliament. This resulted in the first centre-right majority government since the Progressive Conservatives had won their last majority in 1988. The Conservatives also received a greater number of total votes than in 2008. Notably, the Conservatives had a significant breakthrough in southern Ontario, a region where neither they nor the Reform/Alliance side of the merger had done well in the previous two decades. They managed to win several seats in Toronto itself; no centre-right party had won seats in the former [[Metro Toronto]] since 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Yan|first=James|title=The GOP Should Take a Page from Canada's Conservative Party|url=https://natoassociation.ca/the-gop-should-take-a-page-from-canadas-conservative-party/|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=NAOC|language=en-CA|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213406/https://natoassociation.ca/the-gop-should-take-a-page-from-canadas-conservative-party/}}</ref>

The election ended five years of minority governments, made the New Democratic Party the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official Opposition]] for the first time, relegated the Liberals to third place for the first time, brought [[Elizabeth May]] as Canada's first [[Green Party of Canada|Green Party]] Member of Parliament, and reduced the Bloc Québécois from 47 to 4 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 5, 2011|title=Quebec sovereignty movement anything but dead|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/05/05/quebec_sovereignty_movement_anything_but_dead.html|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=thestar.com|language=en}}</ref>

After the election, the Conservatives were accused of cheating in the [[Robocall scandal]], mainly suppressing votes by directing voters to bogus polling stations.<ref name=MaherFeb27>{{cite news |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/215004/elections-canada-investigating-robocalls-that-misled-voters/ |title=Elections Canada investigating 'robocalls' that misled voters |access-date=April 10, 2021 |last1=Maher |first1=Stephen |last2=McGregor |first2=Glen |date=February 27, 2012 |publisher=Global News }}</ref> There were complaints in 247 of Canada's 308 ridings, but only one person was charged; Conservative staffer [[Michael Sona]] was convicted and jailed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coorsh|first=Karolyn|date=November 19, 2014|title=Robocalls trial: Michael Sona sentenced to 9 months in jail|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/robocalls-trial-michael-sona-sentenced-to-9-months-in-jail/|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=CTVNews|language=en}}</ref>

====2015 federal election====
{{main|2015 Canadian federal election}}
Under the ''[[Canada Elections Act]]'', a general election had to take place no later than October 19, 2015. On August 2, at Harper's request, Governor General David Johnson dropped the writs of election for October 19. In that election, Harper's Conservative Party was defeated by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, and became the Official Opposition, dropping to only 99 seats out of 338. This was mainly because of a collapse of Conservative support in southern Ontario, a region that swung heavily to them in 2011. They lost all of their seats in Toronto, and won only three seats in the Greater Toronto Area. They were also shut out of Atlantic Canada—the first time in decades that there were no centre-right MPs from that region. Harper was re-elected in Calgary Heritage, essentially a reconfigured version of his former riding.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 25, 2016|title=Former prime minister Stephen Harper will leave federal politics|url=https://www.straight.com/news/704011/former-prime-minister-stephen-harper-will-leave-federal-politics|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=The Georgia Straight|language=en}}</ref>

Hours after conceding defeat on election night, Harper resigned as leader of the Conservative Party and returned to the backbench.<ref>{{cite web|title = Stephen Harper resigns as Conservative leader|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/stephen-harper-resigns-as-conservative-leader/|website = CTVNews|date=October 19, 2015 |access-date = October 20, 2015}}</ref> Former Cabinet minister [[Rona Ambrose]] was elected interim leader by the Conservative caucus, pending a formal leadership election.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dehaas|first=Josh|date=November 5, 2015|title=Rona Ambrose elected interim Conservative leader|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/rona-ambrose-elected-interim-conservative-leader/|access-date=April 1, 2021|website=CTVNews|language=en}}</ref> Harper resigned as prime minister during a meeting with Governor General David Johnston, who accepted the resignation, after which Johnston invited Trudeau to form a government on November 4, 2015.<ref name="thestar.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/10/22/how-justin-trudeau-will-officially-become-prime-minister.html |title=How Justin Trudeau will officially become prime minister &#124; Toronto Star |website=Thestar.com |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref> After Andrew Scheer resigned as Conservative leader in 2019, the ''National Post'' criticized Harper, by stating that he "lost in 2015 in a way that left his party struggling to make any sense at all, including on deficits."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/np-view-pick-a-philosophy-first-then-a-leader-conservatives|title=NP View: Pick a philosophy first, then a leader, Conservatives {{!}} National Post|newspaper=National Post |date=December 13, 2019|language=en-CA|access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref>

===Domestic and economic policy===
{{Main|Domestic policy of the Harper government}}
[[File:Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper @ the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.jpg|thumb|right|Harper appearing at a gala at the [[Royal Ontario Museum]] in [[Toronto]] to celebrate the discovery of {{HMS|Erebus|1826|6}}, one of two ships wrecked during [[John Franklin]]'s lost expedition.]]

====Constitutional issues====
After sidestepping the political landmine for most of the first year of his time as prime minister, much as all the post-Charlottetown Accord prime ministers had done, Harper's hand was forced to reopen the [[Quebec sovereignty movement|Quebec sovereignty]] debate after the opposition Bloc Québécois were to introduce a motion in the House that called for recognition of Quebec as a "nation". On November 22, 2006, Harper introduced [[Québécois nation motion|his own motion]] to recognize that "the [[French-Canadian|Québécois]] form a nation within a united Canada."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/quebecers-form-a-nation-within-canada-pm-1.624141|author=CBC News|title=Quebecers form a nation within Canada: PM|date=November 22, 2006|publisher=CBC.ca|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref> Five days later, Harper's motion passed, with a margin of 266–16; all federalist parties, and the Bloc Québécois, supported it.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Québécois motion passes, 266–16 |date=November 27, 2006 |url=https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164625146991&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095936/http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164625146991&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |author=Canadian Press |work=Toronto Star |access-date=December 6, 2006 }}</ref>

In 2004, Harper said "the Upper House remains a dumping ground for the favoured cronies of the prime minister".<ref name=senatestar>{{cite news|title=Harper appoints 9 to Senate|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/687216|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=August 27, 2009|first=Richard J.|last=Brennan}}</ref> Between 2006 and 2008, by which time Harper was prime minister, he did not put any names to the governor general for appointment to the Senate, resulting in 16 Senate vacancies by the October 2008 election.<ref name=theglobeandmail1>{{cite news|author=Steven Chase|title=Harper targets Senate reform|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081015.welxnharper1015/BNStory/politics/home?cid=al_gam_mostview|work=The Globe and Mail|date=October 15, 2008|access-date=October 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016051105/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081015.welxnharper1015/BNStory/politics/home?cid=al_gam_mostview|archive-date=October 16, 2008}}</ref> The one exception was [[Michael Fortier]]. When Harper took office, he advised the governor general to appoint Michael Fortier to both the Senate and the [[Cabinet of Canada|Cabinet]], arguing the government needed [[political representation|representation]] from the city of Montreal.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060220113117/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060207/michael_fortier_060207 "Fortier 'didn't want to run' in federal election"] . [[CTV News]]. February 7, 2006.</ref> Although there is a precedent for this action in Canadian history, the appointment led to criticism from opponents who claimed Harper was reneging on his push for an elected Senate. In 2008, Fortier gave up his Senate seat and sought election as an MP, but was defeated by a large margin by the incumbent Bloc Québécois MP.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Canadian Press|title=Michael Fortier gets trounced by Bloc incumbent in Montreal-area riding|url=http://www.pentictonherald.ca/includes/datafiles/CP_print.php?id=140875&title=Michael%20Fortier%20gets%20trounced%20by%20Bloc%20incumbent%20in%20Montreal-area%20riding|work=[[The Daily Courier (Kelowna)|The Daily Courier]]|location=Kelowna, BC|date=October 14, 2008|access-date=March 28, 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

After the October 2008 election, Harper again named Senate reform as a priority.<ref name=theglobeandmail1 /> By December, he recommended the appointment of 18 senators and, in 2009, provided an additional nine people for appointment as senators. Many of those appointed had close ties with the Conservative Party, including the campaign manager of the Conservative Party, [[Doug Finley]]. Critics accused Harper of hypocrisy (the Liberals coined the term "Harpocrisy"). Conservative senator Bert Brown defended Harper's appointments and said "the only way [the Senate]'s ever been filled is by having people that are loyal to the prime minister who's appointing them".<ref name=senatestar/>

====Economic management====
[[File:Stephen-Harper-January-26-2012.png|thumb|right|150px|Harper during the 'Special Address' at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the [[World Economic Forum]] at the congress centre in Davos, Switzerland, January 26, 2012.]]

During Harper's tenure, Canada had budgetary surpluses in [[2006 Canadian federal budget|2006]] and [[2007 Canadian federal budget|2007]] of $13.8 and $9.6 billion respectively. Following the [[2008 financial crisis]], Canada ran deficits from [[2008 Canadian federal budget|2008]]–[[2013 Canadian federal budget|2013]]. The deficit was $55.6 billion in [[2009 Canadian federal budget|2009]] and was gradually lowered to $5.2 billion in 2013. Harper cut both the GST and corporate taxes aggressively. In [[2014 Canadian federal budget|2014]], the federal budget was balanced with a surplus of $1.9 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/canada-deficit/index.html|title=Canada's deficits and surpluses, 1963-2014|publisher=CBC|date=March 18, 2014}}</ref> For [[2015 Canadian federal budget|2015–2016]], the federal government initially projected a $1.4-billion surplus. Following Harper's defeat in the [[2015 Canadian federal election]] and the change in party control, the 2015 fiscal year ended in a $1 billion deficit instead.<ref name="cbc.ca">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/federal-government-deficit-1.3795821|title=Federal government ran $1B deficit for last fiscal year|publisher=CBC|date=October 7, 2016}}</ref> In 2010, Canada had the lowest [[debt-to-GDP ratio]] in the G7 economies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/taxes/debt-to-gdp-ratio-shows-canada-s-strength-1.954797|title=Debt-to-GDP ratio shows Canada's strength|date=February 24, 2010 |access-date=June 4, 2011 |work=CBC News}}</ref> ''The Economist'' magazine stated that Canada had come out the recession stronger than any other rich country in the G7.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2010/05/06/the-charms-of-canada|title=The least-bad rich-world economy: The charms of Canada&nbsp;– Good policies, good behaviour and good fortune: if only others could be as lucky |date=May 6, 2010 |access-date=June 4, 2011 |newspaper=The Economist}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2010/05/06/the-goldilocks-recovery|title=Canada's resilient economy: The Goldilocks recovery |date=May 6, 2010 |access-date=June 4, 2011 |newspaper=The Economist}}</ref> In 2013, Canada came out with [[Canada's Global Markets Action Plan|Global Markets Action Plan]] to generate employment opportunities for Canadians.<ref name=GMAP>{{cite web|url=http://actionplan.gc.ca/en/initiative/global-market-action-plan|title= Global Market Action Plan|access-date= April 19, 2015|work= Canada's Economic Action Plan|archive-date= March 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322123806/http://actionplan.gc.ca/en/initiative/global-market-action-plan}}</ref><ref name=TNFAVSF>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-new-foreign-affairs-vision-shifts-focus-to-economic-diplomacy/article15624653|title=Tories' new foreign-affairs vision shifts focus to 'economic diplomacy'|access-date=April 19, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail|date=November 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name=TIMFPTT>{{cite web|url=http://opencanada.org/features/blogs/roundtable/there-is-more-to-foreign-policy-than-trade |title=There Is More to Foreign Policy Than Trade |access-date=April 19, 2015 |work=Canadian International Council |date=November 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511014524/http://opencanada.org/features/blogs/roundtable/there-is-more-to-foreign-policy-than-trade/ |archive-date=May 11, 2015 }}</ref>

====2011 Census====
Ahead of the [[Canada 2011 Census]], the government announced that the long-form questionnaire (which collects detailed demographic information) will no longer be mandatory. According to [[Minister of Industry (Canada)|Minister of Industry]] Tony Clement, the change was made because of privacy-related complaints and after consulting with [[Statistics Canada]].<ref name=":1"/> However, the federal [[Privacy Commissioner of Canada|privacy commissioner]] reported only receiving three complaints between 1995 and 2010, according to a report in the ''Toronto Sun''.<ref name=":2"/>

[[Munir Sheikh]], the [[Chief Statistician of Canada|chief statistician of Canada]]—appointed on Harper's advice—resigned on July 21, 2010, in protest of the government's change in policy.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 27, 2011|title=A tale called Contempt: Ignatieff looks to spin master narrative to unseat Harper|work=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/story_print.html?id=4511788&sponsor=|access-date=April 28, 2011}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/StatsCan+boss+reflecting+after+census+mess/3305387/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018053756/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/StatsCan+boss+reflecting+after+census+mess/3305387/story.html|archive-date=October 18, 2012|title=StatsCan boss quits over census changes|work=Vancouver Sun|last=Proudfoot|first=Shannon|date=July 21, 2010|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Ivan Fellegi]], a former chief statistician, criticized the government's decision, saying that those who are most vulnerable (such as the poor, new immigrants, and aboriginals) are least likely to respond to a voluntary form, which weakens information about their demographic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1116971|title=Former StatsCan head slams census decision by Tories|publisher=The Canadian Press|last=Ditchburn|first=Jennifer|date=July 1, 2010|access-date=October 20, 2010}}</ref>

The move was opposed by some governmental and non-governmental organizations.<ref>
On July 19, 2010, representatives from several following institutions signed [https://www.scribd.com/doc/34547395/Read-the-full-text-of-the-letter-here a letter] expressing their disapproval of the change:

* [[Canadian Association for Business Economics]]
* [[Canadian Nurses Association]]
* [[Caledon Institute of Social Policy]]
* [[Canadian Institute of Planners]]
* [[Institute for Research on Public Policy]]
* [[Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants]]
* [[Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada]]
* [[Canadian Labour Congress]]
* [[Canada West Foundation]]
* [[United Way of Canada]]
* [[Glendon School of Public and International Affairs]]
* [[National Specialty Society for Community Medicine]]
* [[Environics Analytics]]
* The [[University of Toronto School of Public Policy and Governance]] and [[Rotman School of Management]]
* [[Nanos Research]]
* [[Canadian Public Health Association]]
* [[Canadian Association of University Teachers]]
* [[Canadian Council on Social Development]]
* [[Canadian Economic Association]]
* [[Toronto Board of Trade]]</ref> [[Federation of Canadian Municipalities]]; the [[Municipal government of Toronto|Toronto government]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/article/834321--siddiqui-gutting-of-census-stirs-opposition-to-stephen-harper|title=Siddiqui: Gutting of census stirs opposition to Stephen Harper|location=Toronto|work=The Star|date=July 10, 2010}}</ref> [[Canadian Jewish Congress]]; [[Evangelical Fellowship of Canada]];<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ditching-census-upsets-faith-groups-1.931805|title=Ditching census upsets faith groups|publisher= [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref> [[Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/bishops-castigate-clement-on-census-change/article1657511 |title=Bishops castigate Clement on census change |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |last=Perreaux |first=Les |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003100708/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/bishops-castigate-clement-on-census-change/article1657511/ |archive-date=October 3, 2010 }}</ref> [[Canadian Medical Association]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/census/article/836240--axing-long-form-census-threatens-health-care-improvements-doctors-warn|title=Axing long form census threatens health-care improvements, doctors warn|last=Campion-Smith|first=Bruce|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=July 15, 2010}}</ref> [[Statistical Society of Canada]]; the [[American Statistical Association]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/dont-mess-with-census-statisticians-tell-tories/article1386901/|title=Don't mess with census, statisticians tell Tories|last=Thorne|first=Stephen|access-date=April 10, 2021|work= The Globe and Mail}}</ref> and [[Registered Nurses Association of Ontario]] all opposed the change. However, the [[Fraser Institute]] supported the change.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2010/07/29/WhyAttackCensus|title=Why Attack the Long Census?|date=July 27, 2010|first=Donald|last=Gutstein|magazine=[[The Tyee]]|access-date=August 11, 2010}}</ref> The provincial governments of [[Government of Ontario|Ontario]], [[Government of Quebec|Quebec]], [[Government of New Brunswick|New Brunswick]], [[Government of Prince Edward Island|Prince Edward Island]], and [[Government of Manitoba|Manitoba]], also opposed the change.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/Census+consensus+eludes+premiers+Several+scold+Harper/3369649/story.html|title=Census consensus eludes premiers: Several scold Harper|work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=October 4, 2018|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909035719/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Census%20consensus%20eludes%20premiers%20Several%20scold%20Harper/3369649/story.html}}</ref>

====Veterans====
Under Harper, the annual budget of [[Veterans Affairs Canada]] increased from $2.85 billion in 2005–2006 to $3.55 billion in 2014–2015, while the quantity of veterans served has declined from 219,152 in 2008–2009 to 199,154 in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|author = Veterans Affairs Canada|title = Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC) budget has increased as the number of veterans has declined|publisher = Veterans Affairs Canada|url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/pdf/info-graphics/budget-increase.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author = Veterans Affairs Canada|title = 90% of VAC budget goes to services|publisher = Veterans Affairs Canada|url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/news/info-graphics/expenditures}}</ref> Nine Veterans Affairs offices were closed between 2012 and 2015, and 900 positions were phased out from the department since 2009. Former-[[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|minister of veterans affairs]] [[Erin O'Toole]] stated that the closures were made to modernize the department, by moving services online and to [[Service Canada]] locations.<ref name="Closing VA offices">{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/9-ridings-where-anger-over-veterans-affairs-could-hurt-the-conservatives/ | title=9 ridings where anger over Veterans Affairs could hurt the Conservatives | publisher=[[CTV News]] | date=August 24, 2015 | access-date=October 18, 2015 | author=Zilio, Michelle}}</ref> In 2006, Harper implemented the New Veterans Charter passed with all party support by the previous Liberal government.<ref name="Veterans spending Globe">{{cite web|url=http://politics.theglobeandmail.com/2015/09/14/ask-the-globe-has-harper-really-increased-spending-on-veterans/|title=Ask The Globe: Has Harper really increased spending on veterans?|date=September 14, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=October 18, 2015|archive-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105093205/http://politics.theglobeandmail.com/2015/09/14/ask-the-globe-has-harper-really-increased-spending-on-veterans/}}</ref> This charter gave veterans the option to select a lump-sum payment, an annual installment over the number of years of a Veteran's choosing, or a combination of these two payment options.<ref name="New Veterans Charter">{{cite web|url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/news/vac-responds/just-the-facts/new-veterans-charter| title=New Veterans Charter| publisher=[[Veterans Affairs Canada]]| date=October 23, 2014| access-date=July 30, 2016| archive-date=May 4, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504184933/http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/news/vac-responds/just-the-facts/new-veterans-charter}}</ref><ref name="Myth Busting the New Veterans Charter Lump Sum Payment">{{cite web|url=http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/eng/blog/post/249| title=New Veterans Charter| publisher=Veterans Ombudsman| date=August 15, 2014| access-date=July 30, 2016| archive-date=August 17, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817014330/http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/eng/blog/post/249}}</ref> Under Harper, the Canadian government spent $700,000 fighting a class-action lawsuit brought by a group of wounded Afghan veterans who argued that the new charter was discriminatory.<ref name="Fighting veterans">{{cite web |url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/feds-spend-700000-in-court-fighting-veterans-class-action-lawsuit/ | title=Feds spend $700,000 in court fighting veterans class-action lawsuit | work=[[Maclean's]] | date=January 28, 2015 | access-date=October 18, 2015 | author=The Canadian Press| author-link=The Canadian Press }}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
{{Main|Foreign policy of the Stephen Harper government}}
[[File:Cristina Kirchner and Canada PM Stephen Harper.jpg|thumb|President of Argentina [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner|Cristina Kirchner]] and Harper in [[Toronto]], 2010.]]
[[File:G7 Summit Leaders 2015 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Harper at the [[41st G7 summit|2015 G-7 summit]] with [[Donald Tusk]], [[Shinzō Abe]], [[Barack Obama]], [[Angela Merkel]], [[François Hollande]], [[David Cameron]], [[Matteo Renzi]], and [[Jean-Claude Juncker]] in [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]].]]

During his term, Harper dealt with many foreign policy issues relating to the United States, the [[war on terror]], the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]], free trade, [[China]], and Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007|title=Mr. Harper Goes to War: Canada, Afghanistan, and the Return of "High Politics" in Canadian Foreign Policy|url=https://www.cpsa-acsp.ca/papers-2007/Bratt.pdf|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref>

He reduced defence spending to 1 per cent of Canadian GDP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cips.uottawa.ca/canadian-military-spending-as-a-percent-of-gdp/|title=Canadian Military Spending as a Percent of GDP|work=CIPS }}</ref>

In 2009, Harper visited China. During the visit Chinese Premier [[Wen Jiabao]] publicly scolded Harper for not visiting earlier, pointing out that "this is the first meeting between the Chinese premier and a Canadian prime minister in almost five years"; Harper in response said that, "it's almost been five years since we had yourself or President [[Hu Jintao|Hu]] in our country."<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news|title=China publicly scolds Harper for taking too long to visit|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/china-publicly-scolds-harper-for-taking-too-long-to-visit/article4312718/|work=The Globe and Mail|date=December 3, 2009|first=John|last=Ibbitson|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref> In 2008, former-prime minister [[Jean Chrétien]] had criticized Harper for missing opening ceremonies for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]];<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news|title=Harper has messed up relations with China: Chrétien |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=a63731cf-e839-4438-93f1-fe5d1bc38eb3 |date=August 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215011052/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=a63731cf-e839-4438-93f1-fe5d1bc38eb3 |archive-date=February 15, 2012 }}</ref> in response, [[Dimitri Soudas]], a spokesperson for Harper, called the remarks hypocritical, pointing out that Chrétien "attended one of six Olympic opening ceremonies during his 13{{sic}} years as prime minister".<ref>Tibbets, Janice. (August 19, 2008) [http://www.pressreader.com/canada/windsor-star/20080819/281779919914920 "Harper Erred on Olympics: Chrétien"], ''[[Windsor Star]]''.</ref>

On September 11, 2007, Harper visited Australia and addressed [[Parliament of Australia|its Parliament]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Harper praises Australian troops, elected senate|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/harper-praises-australian-troops-elected-senate-1.255845|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628141250/http://www.ctvnews.ca/harper-praises-australian-troops-elected-senate-1.255845|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2012|publisher=[[CTV News]]|date= September 10, 2007|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref>

On January 20, 2014, Harper addressed the Israeli Knesset in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stephen Harper's speech to the Israeli Knesset|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-s-speech-to-the-israeli-knesset-1.2503902|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date= January 20, 2014|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref>

During mid-2015, Harper repeatedly voiced his opinion that Russia should be excluded from association with the G7 group of nations because of Russia's support for Russian-speaking Ukrainian dissidents. On June 8, Harper said, "Mr. Putin ... has no place at the [G7] table, and I don't believe there's any leader who would defend Mr. Putin having a place."<ref>{{cite news|author=Terry Milewski |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-renews-attack-on-russia-s-vladimir-putin-over-ukraine-1.3104202 |title=Stephen Harper renews attack on Russia's Vladimir Putin over Ukraine |publisher=CBC News |date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>

[[Michael Ignatieff]] criticized Harper for cutting foreign aid to Africa by $700 million, falling short of the [[UN Millennium Development Goals]], and cutting eight African countries from the list of priority aid recipients.<ref name=Ignat_foreign/>

====Afghanistan====
On March 11 and 12, 2006, Harper made a surprise trip to [[Afghanistan]], where Canadian Forces personnel [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|had been deployed]] as part of the [[NATO]]-led [[International Security Assistance Force]] since late 2001, to visit troops in theatre as a show of support for their efforts, and as a demonstration of the government's commitment to reconstruction and stability in the region. Harper's choice of a first foreign visit was closely guarded from the press until his arrival in Afghanistan (citing security concerns), and is seen as marking a significant change in relationship between the government and the military. Harper returned to Afghanistan on May 22, 2007, in a surprise two-day visit which included visiting Canadian troops at the forward operating base at Ma'Sum Ghar, located {{convert|25|km|mi|0}} south of [[Kandahar]], making Harper the first prime minister to have visited the front lines of a combat operation.<ref>{{cite news|title=PM hints Canada may stay in Afghanistan past 2009|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/pm-hints-canada-may-stay-in-afghanistan-past-2009-1.242227|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115112042/http://www.ctvnews.ca/pm-hints-canada-may-stay-in-afghanistan-past-2009-1.242227|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 15, 2013|publisher=[[CTV News]]|date=May 23, 2007|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref>

====Israel====
{{See also|International reactions to the 2006 Lebanon War}}
[[File:Toronto protest banner criticising Harper's Israel-Lebanon response.jpg|thumb|A banner criticizing Harper's response to the 2006 Israel–Lebanon conflict, Toronto.]]
Harper has shown admiration for [[Israel]] since the early 1990s. Friends and colleagues describe his views as being the product of thinking and reading deeply about the Middle East. Toronto rabbi Philip Scheim, who accompanied Harper to Israel in 2014 said, "I sense that [Harper] sees Israel as a manifestation of justice and a righting of historical wrongs, especially in light of [[the Holocaust]]."<ref>Csillag, Ron. [http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/70672/canadian-prime-minister-is-a-staunch-supporter-of-israel-but-why Jweekly.com]. January 23, 2014. January 23, 2014.</ref>

At the outset of the [[2006 Israel–Lebanon conflict]], Harper defended Israel's "right to defend itself" and described its military campaign in Lebanon as a "measured" response, arguing that [[Hezbollah]]'s release of kidnapped [[Israel Defense Force]] (IDF) soldiers would be the key to ending the conflict.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harper sides firmly with Israel|date=July 13, 2006|work=The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060713.wHarper0713/BNStory/Front|agency=Canadian Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718004310/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060713.wHarper0713/BNStory/Front|archive-date=July 18, 2006}}</ref> Speaking of the situation in both Lebanon and [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] on July 18, Harper said he wanted "not just a ceasefire, but a resolution" but such a thing would not happen until Hezbollah and [[Hamas]] recognize Israel's right to exist. Harper blamed Hezbollah for all the civilian deaths. He asserted that Hezbollah's objective is to destroy Israel through violence.<ref>{{cite news|title=Neutral stance rejected |first=Mike |last=Blanchfield |date=July 19, 2006 |work=[[National Post]] |access-date=December 6, 2006 |url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=c0ada2ed-6c3d-4690-9317-739c4d97fd16&k=49262 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060807141923/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=c0ada2ed-6c3d-4690-9317-739c4d97fd16&k=49262 |archive-date=August 7, 2006 }}</ref>

The media noted that Harper did not allow reporters opportunities to ask him questions on his position. Some Canadians, including many Arab and Lebanese Canadians, criticized Harper's description of Israel's response.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harper dodges questions on Israel-Lebanon crisis|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=80518c73-0f2d-43f6-9499-1a8360f8b60e|date=July 17, 2006|work=[[Ottawa Citizen]]|publisher=[[Canada.com]]|agency=CanWest News Service|access-date=March 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628222444/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=80518c73-0f2d-43f6-9499-1a8360f8b60e|archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref>

In December 2008, the [[Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations]] recognized Harper's support for Israel with its inaugural International Leadership Award, pointing out Harper's decision to boycott the [[Durban II]] anti-racism conference, and his government's "support for Israel and [its] efforts at the U.N. against incitement and{{Nbsp}}... the [[delegitimization of Israel]]".<ref>[http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/04/1001354/presidents-conference-honors-harper "Presidents Conference to honor Harper"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206024311/http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/04/1001354/presidents-conference-honors-harper |date=December 6, 2008 }}, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, December 4, 2008</ref>

In March 2009, Harper spoke at a [[Parliament Hill]] ceremony organized by [[Chabad-Lubavitch]] to honour the Jewish victims of the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]], which included an attack on the [[Nariman House]]. He expressed condolences over the murder at Chabad's Mumbai centre of Rabbi [[Gavriel Holtzberg]] and his wife Rivka. Harper described the killings as "affronts to the values that unite all civilized people". Harper added that the quick instalment of a new rabbi at the Chabad centre in Mumbai as a signal that the Jewish people will "never bow to violence and hatred".<ref name=pernicious>[http://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/13/1003690/harper-anti-semitism-pernicious "Harper: Anti-Semitism 'pernicious{{'"}}], Jewish Telegraphic Agency, March 13, 2009.</ref>

In 2010, Canada lost a bid for a seat on the [[UN Security Council]]. While initially blaming the loss on his rival Ignatieff, Harper later said that it was due to his pro-Israeli stance. Harper then said that he would take a pro-Israeli stance, no matter what the political cost to Canada.<ref name=CBC20101012>{{Cite news|title=Cannon blames Ignatieff for Canada's UN vote loss|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cannon-blames-ignatieff-for-canada-s-un-vote-loss-1.874121|date=October 12, 2010|publisher=[[CBC News]]|series=[[The Canadian Press]]|access-date=March 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name=unseat>{{cite news|title=Harper Says He'll Support Israel Even If It Hurts Canada Politically |url=http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/national/article/99489--harper-says-he-ll-support-israel-even-if-it-hurts-canada-politically |date=November 9, 2010 |publisher=[[CityNews]] |location=Toronto |access-date=March 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117013606/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/national/article/99489--harper-says-he-ll-support-israel-even-if-it-hurts-canada-politically |archive-date=November 17, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Anti-Semitism on the rise here and abroad, PM says|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/887386--pro-israeli-stand-cost-canada-un-seat-harper-says|date=November 8, 2010|work=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=March 30, 2011|first=Richard J.|last=Brennan}}</ref> Ignatieff criticized Harper's stance as a "mistake", saying Canada would be better able to defend Israel through the Security Council than from the sidelines and pointed out that it is the Security Council that will determine if sanctions are imposed on [[Iran]].<ref name=unseat/> Ignatieff also accused Harper of steering the discussion away from implementing the [[two-state solution]], and instead of rendering all discussion into a competition "about who is Israel's best friend".<ref name=Ignat_foreign>{{cite news|first=Susan|last=Delacourt|title=Harper has burned bridges abroad, Ignatieff says|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/884621|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=November 2, 2010}}</ref>

Harper backed Israel's [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict|2014 war in Gaza]] and condemned Hamas. Harper said, "It is evident that Hamas is deliberately using human shields to further terror in the region."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/israel-middle-east/stephen-harper-accuses-hamas-of-using-human-shields-urges-world-leaders-to-side-with-israel|title=Stephen Harper accuses Hamas of using human shields, urges world leaders to side with Israel |newspaper=National Post| date=July 13, 2014|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref>

====Free trade with EFTA====
On June 7, 2007, the Conservative government announced it had finalized free trade negotiations with the [[European Free Trade Association]] (EFTA). Under this agreement, Canada increased its trade ties with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and [[Liechtenstein]]. In 2006, the value of trade between these partners was $10.7 billion. Canada had originally begun negotiations with the EFTA on October 9, 1998, but talks broke down because of a disagreement over subsidies to shipyards in Atlantic Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/efta-aele.aspx?lang=en|title=Canada&nbsp;— European Free Trade Association (EFTA)&nbsp;– Free Trade Agreement|access-date=February 6, 2008|date=January 28, 2008|publisher=[[Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade|Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520092329/http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/efta-aele.aspx?lang=en|archive-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>

====United States====
{{see also|Canada–United States relations}}
[[File:Barack Obama meets Stephen Harper.jpg|thumb|left|Harper meets with US president [[Barack Obama]] in Ottawa, February 19, 2009.]]
[[File:Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Prime Minister Stephen Harper (4308896411).jpg|thumb|left|Harper and [[United States Secretary of State|US Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] at the Haiti Ministerial Preparatory Conference addressing [[Humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake|earthquake relief]] in [[Montreal]], January 25, 2010.]]
Shortly after being congratulated by George W. Bush for his victory, Harper rebuked US Ambassador [[David H. Wilkins|David Wilkins]] for criticizing the Conservatives' plans to assert Canada's sovereignty over the [[Arctic Ocean]] waters with armed forces.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harper rebukes U.S. envoy over Arctic dispute|date=January 27, 2006|work=Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060127.wxharper27/BNStory/specialNewTory2006|author=Gloria Galloway|access-date=December 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204025423/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060127.wxharper27/BNStory/specialNewTory2006/|archive-date=February 4, 2008}}</ref> Harper's first meeting as prime minister with the US president occurred at the end of March 2006.

The government received American news coverage during the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008|Democratic Party's 2008 presidential primaries]] after the details of a conversation between Barack Obama's economic advisor [[Austan Goolsbee]], and Canadian diplomat Georges Rioux were revealed. Reportedly Goolsbee was reassuring the Canadians that Obama's comments on potentially renegotiating the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA) were more political rhetoric than actual policy. The accuracy of these reports has been debated by both the Obama campaign and the Canadian government. The news came at a key time nearing the [[Ohio Democratic primary, 2008|Ohio]] and [[Texas Democratic primary and caucuses, 2008|Texas]] primaries, as many [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] voters believed that the benefits of NAFTA were dubious. The impression that Obama was not being completely forthright was attacked by his opponent [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Alexander|last=Panetta|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080304.wleakupdate0304/BNStory/Front|title=Harper denies aide leaked Obama document|location=Ottawa|publisher=globeandmail.com|date=March 4, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116070728/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080304.wleakupdate0304/BNStory/Front|archive-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref>

[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] reported that Harper's [[Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (Canada)|chief of staff]] [[Ian Brodie]] was responsible for the details reaching the hands of the media.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jennifer|last=Parker|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4365922&page=1|title=Clinton Campaign Demands Obama Answers on NAFTA|publisher=ABC News|date=February 29, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> Harper denied that Brodie was responsible for the leak and launched an investigation to find the source. The [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Opposition]], as well as Democratic strategist [[Bob Shrum]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Brian Laghi|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080303.NAFTA03/TPStory/National|title=Harper meddling in U.S. primaries, Democrats say|publisher=globeandmail.com|date=March 3, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709031951/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080303.NAFTA03/TPStory/National|archive-date=July 9, 2008}}</ref> criticized the government on the issue, stating they were trying to help the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] by helping Hillary Clinton win the Democratic nomination instead of Obama. They also alleged the leak would hurt relations with the United States if Obama ever were to become president.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/pm-denies-top-aide-leaked-obama-nafta-memo-1.696328|title=PM denies top aide leaked Obama NAFTA memo|publisher=CBC.ca|date=March 4, 2008|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref> Obama was elected president in November. In February, he made his first foreign visit as the US president to Ottawa, where he affirmed support for free trade with Canada, as well as praising Canada for its involvement in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/pm-obama-talk-trade-afghanistan-pledge-clean-energy-dialogue-1.781701|title=PM, Obama talk trade, Afghanistan, pledge 'clean energy dialogue{{'-}}|publisher=CBC News|date=February 19, 2009|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref>

===Environmental policy===
{{main|Environmental policy of the Stephen Harper government}}
[[File:Stephen Harper @ Vancouver Island University's Deep Bay Marine Field Station.jpg|thumb|right|Stephen Harper visiting [[Vancouver Island University]]'s [[Deep Bay Marine Field Station]] in 2010.]]

From 2006 to 2010, Canadian greenhouse gas emissions fell from 749 to 726&nbsp;Mt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO<sub>2</sub> eq). From 1993 until 2006, during the previous Liberal government greenhouse gas emissions increased from 600 to 749&nbsp;Mt of CO<sub>2</sub> eq.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/indicateurs-indicators/default.asp?lang=en&n=FBF8455E-1 | title = National Greenhouse Gas Emissions | date = April 17, 2015 | publisher = Environment Canada }}</ref> The reduction corresponded to Canada's decreased economic output during the [[Great Recession]] and emissions began increasing slightly in 2010, when the economy began recovering.<ref name="Reality check">{{cite web |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2153522/reality-check-have-greenhouse-gas-emissions-decreased-as-the-economy-grows/ | title=Reality check: Have greenhouse gas emissions decreased as the economy grows? | publisher=[[Global News]] | date=August 7, 2015 | access-date=August 31, 2015 | author=Young, Leslie}}</ref> Other significant factors in Canada's decreased emissions during Harper's tenure are initiatives such as the [[carbon tax]] in British Columbia, the [[cap and trade]] system in Quebec, Ontario discontinuing use of [[coal-fired power plant]]s, and the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda which regulates emissions for automobiles and light trucks.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=192 | title=Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations | publisher=[[Environment Canada]] | date=April 4, 2010 | access-date=October 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/aglukkaq-touts-emissions-cuts-but-the-numbers-tell-another-story/ | title=Aglukkaq touts emissions cuts, numbers tell another story | magazine=[[Maclean's]] | date=April 4, 2014 | access-date=August 31, 2015 | author=Geddes, John}}</ref><ref name="Lower Churchill Project Loan Guarantee">{{cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/legal-post/drew-hasselback-federal-guarantee-gives-lower-churchill-financing-a-sovereign-touch |title=Drew Hasselback: Federal guarantee gives Lower Churchill financing a sovereign touch |newspaper=Financial Post |date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> In 2006, a "Clean Air and Climate Change Act" was proposed to address air pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions; it never became law.<ref name="Green Lies">{{cite web | url=https://ipolitics.ca/2012/02/08/david-boyd-little-green-lies-prime-minister-harper-and-canadas-environment/ | title=Little green lies: Prime Minister Harper and Canada's environment | publisher=iPolitics | date=February 28, 2012 | access-date=October 18, 2015 | author=Boyd, David R.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/LegislativeSummaries/bills_ls.asp?ls=c30&Parl=39&Ses=1| title=Bill C-30: Canada's Clean Air and Climate Change Act| publisher=[[Parliament of Canada]]| date=November 14, 2006 |author=Frédéric Beauregard-Tellier |author2=Sam N.K. Banks |author3=Kristen Douglas |author4=Lynne C. Myers |author5=Tim Williams | access-date=January 31, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208070724/http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/LegislativeSummaries/bills_ls.asp?ls=c30&Parl=39&Ses=1| archive-date=December 8, 2015| df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2006, the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda (CARA) was established to "support Government of Canada efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions in order to improve the environment and health of Canadians".<ref name="Clean Air Regulatory Agenda">{{cite web |url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=56D4043B-1&news=295B1964-9737-4F80-B064-B3088D9910BE| title=Clean Air Regulatory Agenda | publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=October 19, 2015| date=November 28, 2011 }}</ref> 

In December 2011, the Harper government announced that Canada would formally withdraw from the [[Kyoto Protocol]].<ref name="Canada abandons Kyoto">{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-formally-abandons-kyoto-protocol-on-climate-change/article4180809/ | title=Canada formally abandons Kyoto Protocol on climate change | work=The Globe and Mail | date=September 6, 2012 | access-date=September 15, 2015 | author=Curry, Bill and Shawn McCarthy}}</ref> Environment Minister [[Peter Kent]] stated, "It's now clear that Kyoto is not the path forward for a global solution to climate change."<ref name="Canada abandons Kyoto" /> In December 2012, Canada became the first signatory to formally withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol.<ref name=Postmedia-withdrawal>{{cite web | url=http://o.canada.com/news/its-official-harper-government-withdraws-from-kyoto-climate-agreement | title=It's official: Harper government withdraws from Kyoto climate agreement | publisher=[[Postmedia]] | date=December 14, 2012 | access-date=September 15, 2015 | author=De Souza, Mike | work=canada.com | archive-date=October 7, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007075520/http://o.canada.com/news/its-official-harper-government-withdraws-from-kyoto-climate-agreement }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-formally-withdrawig-from-kyoto-protocol | title = Canada Pulling out of Kyoto Accord | author = Kennedy, Mark | date = December 12, 2011 | newspaper = National Post |access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref>

====Renewable energy====
Other federal initiatives included the 2011 loan guarantee towards the [[Lower Churchill Project]] in [[Labrador]].<ref name="Lower Churchill Project: Ottawa Guarantees $6.2-Billion Hydroelectric Project On Muskrat Falls For Newfoundland And Labrador">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/08/19/lower-churchill-project-loan-gaurantee-ottawa-harper_n_931086.html |title=Lower Churchill Project: Ottawa Guarantees $6.2-Billion Hydroelectric Project On Muskrat Falls For Newfoundland And Labrador|work=The Huffington Post|date=August 19, 2011}}</ref> The Lower Churchill's two hydroelectric installations at [[Gull Island, Labrador|Gull Island]] and [[Muskrat Falls]] have a combined capacity of over {{formatnum:3074}}&nbsp;MW and have the ability to provide 16.7&nbsp;TW·h of electricity per year, which is enough to "reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 3.2 million vehicles off the road each year".<ref name="Lower Churchill Project">{{cite web |url=http://www.nalcorenergy.com/Lower-Churchill-Project.asp |title=Lower Churchill Project |publisher=Nalcor Energy |access-date=June 8, 2013 |archive-date=November 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129063257/http://www.nalcorenergy.com/Lower-Churchill-Project.asp }}</ref><ref name="Harper pledges to support major $6.2 billion hydroelectric project">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/03/31/harper_pledges_to_support_major_62_billion_hydroelectric_project.html |title=Harper pledges to support major $6.2 billion hydroelectric project|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=March 31, 2011}}</ref>

====Public transit====
In 2006, Harper introduced the 'Public Transit Tax Credit', where individuals could claim 15 per cent of the cost of a transit pass each year.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Nixing of transit tax credit in federal budget draws ire|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/did-trudeaus-budget-just-sock-it-to-transit-riders/article34394759/|access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref> From 2006 to 2013, the Harper government invested over $5 billion towards public transit projects in Canada.<ref name="Minister Denis Lebel confirms Harper Government's record infrastructure investment will boost Canadian communities">{{cite web|url=http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/media/news-nouvelles/2013/20130601vancouver-eng.html|title=Minister Denis Lebel confirms Harper Government's record infrastructure investment will boost Canadian communities|publisher=Infrastructure Canada|date=June 1, 2013|access-date=October 22, 2015|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909052227/http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/media/news-nouvelles/2013/20130601vancouver-eng.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="On the Right Track">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianmetalworking.com/features/on-the-right-track/|title=On the Right Track|author=Hendley, Nate|work=Canadian Metalworking |date=November 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715204629/http://www.canadianmetalworking.com/features/on-the-right-track/|archive-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref> In 2006, the federal government provided $697 million towards the [[Line 1 Yonge–University#Toronto–York Spadina Subway Extension|Toronto York–Spadina Subway Extension]].<ref>{{cite web|title=BUS RAPID TRANSIT SERVICE BREAKS GROUND IN MISSISSAUGA|url=http://www.metrolinx.com/en/projectsandprograms/transitexpansionprojects/Mississauga%20BRT_NR_E%20AUG%204.pdf|work=[[Metrolinx]]|access-date=April 23, 2014|archive-date=July 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717225711/http://www.metrolinx.com/en/projectsandprograms/transitexpansionprojects/Mississauga%20BRT_NR_E%20AUG%204.pdf}}</ref> In September 2013, Finance Minister [[Jim Flaherty]] announced a federal contribution of $660 million towards the [[Scarborough Subway Extension]].<ref name="Harper pledges federal funding for Toronto's subway extension">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/harper-pledges-funding-for-torontos-subway-extension/article14453152/ |title=Harper pledges federal funding for Toronto's subway extension |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=September 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Ottawa will help pay for Scarborough subway">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/09/22/prime_minister_stephen_harper_says_ottawa_will_help_pay_for_scarborough_subway.html |title=Ottawa will help pay for Scarborough subway |newspaper=The Toronto Star |date=September 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Major transit announcement incoming: Harper expected to boost TTC funding during Toronto visit">{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/major-transit-announcement-incoming-harper-expected-to-boost-ttc-funding-during-toronto-visit |title=Major transit announcement incoming: Harper expected to boost TTC funding during Toronto visit |newspaper=The National Post |date=June 18, 2015 |access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref>

=== Transparency ===
Starting in 2006, the Harper government implemented policies that had the effect of reducing transparency. During this government, scientists employed by the government were not able to speak with the media and inform the public of their findings without government permission,<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Evans Ogden|first=Lesley|date=May 5, 2016|title=Nine years of censorship|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=533|issue=7601|pages=26–28|doi=10.1038/533026a|pmid=27147016|bibcode=2016Natur.533...26E|s2cid=4445904|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/hundreds-of-worlds-scientists-urge-harper-to-end-funding-cuts/|title=Hundreds of world's scientists urge Harper to end funding cuts|last=Leung|first=Marlene|newspaper=CTVNews|access-date=February 9, 2017|language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/03/15/harper_governments_muzzling_of_scientists_a_mark_of_shame_for_canada.html|title=Harper government's muzzling of scientists a mark of shame for Canada {{!}} Toronto Star|website=thestar.com|date=March 15, 2013 |access-date=February 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/opinion/sunday/silencing-scientists.html|title=Silencing Scientists|last=Klinkenborg|first=Verlyn|date=September 21, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 9, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> the government made significant cuts to research and other forms of data collection,<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/835932--statscan-recommended-move-to-voluntary-census-clement-says|title=StatsCan recommended move to voluntary census, Tony Clement says|work=Toronto Star|last=Campion-Smith|first=Bruce|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/research-cutbacks-by-government-alarm-scientists-1.2490081|title=Scientists raise red flags over government research cuts|newspaper=CBC News|access-date=February 9, 2017|language=en}}</ref> and significant destruction and inaccessibility of government-held data and documents occurred.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/01/12/thats_no_way_to_treat_a_library_scientists_say.html|title=That's no way to treat a library, scientists say {{!}} Toronto Star|website=thestar.com|date=January 12, 2014 |access-date=February 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-says-his-government-encouraged-rcmp-to-destroy-disputed-long-gun-data-1.3116835|title=PM says his government encouraged RCMP to destroy disputed long-gun data|newspaper=CBC News|access-date=February 9, 2017|language=en}}</ref> Over 2,000 scientists were dismissed and funding was cut from world renowned research facilities. Cuts were also made to many essential programs, some so deep that they had to shut down entirely, including the monitoring of smoke stack emissions, food inspections, oil spills, water quality, and climate change.<ref name=":7" /> During this time, the long form census was also discontinued as a mandatory part of the census. This was ostensibly due to privacy concerns, however, the number of complaints about privacy proved to be minimal.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|author=LAURA PAYTON, Parliamentary Bureau |url=http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/07/14/14712616.html |title=Few complaints about census: privacy commissioner |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=July 14, 2010 |access-date=February 19, 2012}}</ref>

During the Harper government, it was not possible for government-employed scientists to openly speak about the government policy that prohibited communication with the media. However, following the election of a new government in 2015, several scientists who were or had been employed by the government came forward to confirm the allegations made by anonymous sources during the Harper years.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />
	 
The government closed a number of government libraries without consultation on the closings or the process involved. The manner in which it was done received significant criticism because it left the remaining information in disarray, inaccessible for research.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />

===Appointments===
In 2008, Harper appointed [[Mark Carney]] to the office of [[governor of the Bank of Canada]]. According to Carney, in 2012, Harper asked Carney—who was then governor of the Bank of Canada—if he would join the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] government as [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|minister of finance]]. Carney declined, stating in a February 2025 interview with the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] that he felt it "wasn't appropriate" for him to proceed with the offer because he felt it was not right to "go directly from being governor into elective politics."<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Carney says former prime minister Stephen Harper asked him to be finance minister |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mark-carney-stephen-harper-1.7460897 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=February 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217031139/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mark-carney-stephen-harper-1.7460897 |archive-date=February 17, 2025 |url-status=live |last1=Steven |first1=Benjamin Lopez |access-date=February 17, 2025}}</ref> In 2013, Harper appointed [[Stephen Poloz]] to the office. 

====Supreme Court====
Harper chose the following jurists to be appointed as justices of the Supreme Court of Canada:

* [[Marshall Rothstein]] (March 1, 2006 – August 31, 2015)
* [[Thomas Cromwell (jurist)|Thomas Cromwell]] (September 5, 2008 – September 1, 2016)
* [[Andromache Karakatsanis]] (October 21, 2011 – present)<ref name=SecretProcess>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1070946--supreme-court-appointments-highlight-a-secret-process|title=Supreme Court appointments highlight a secret process | work=The Star}}</ref>
* [[Michael J. Moldaver]] (October 21, 2011 – September 1, 2022)<ref name=SecretProcess/>
* [[Richard Wagner (judge)|Richard Wagner]] (October 5, 2012 – present)
* [[Clément Gascon]] (June 9, 2014 – September 15, 2019)
* [[Suzanne Côté]] (December 1, 2014 – present)
* [[Russell Brown (judge)|Russell Brown]] (August 31, 2015 – June 12, 2023)

====Senate====
Harper, on January 29, 2010, advised the governor general to appoint new Conservative senators to fill five vacancies in the Senate, one each for Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick, and two for Ontario. The new senators were [[Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu]], of Quebec; [[Bob Runciman]], of Ontario; [[Vim Kochhar]], of Ontario; [[Elizabeth Marshall (politician)|Elizabeth Marshall]] of [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]; and [[Rose-May Poirier]], of New Brunswick. This changed the party standings in the Senate, which had previously been dominated by Liberals, to 51 Conservatives, 49 Liberals, and five others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/politics/inside-politics-blog/2010/01/sunday-senatewatch-five-vacancies-why-not-a-bakers-dozen-instead.html|title=SenateWatch: Five vacancies? Why not a baker's dozen instead?|publisher=CBC|date=January 3, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref>

==Post-premiership (2015–present)==
===Conservative backbencher (2015–2016)===
Harper returned to Ottawa as a Conservative backbencher and addressed a meeting of the Conservative caucus that included defeated MPs in November 2015.<ref name="Low profile">{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/former-pm-stephen-harper-will-be-in-the-house-for-key-votes-ambrose-says-1.3359692 | title=Former PM Stephen Harper will be in the House for key votes, Ambrose says | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=December 10, 2015 | access-date=December 10, 2015 | author=Lunn, Susan}}</ref> Interim leader Rona Ambrose stated that Harper would be in the House for key votes as the member for Calgary Heritage, but had earned the right to keep a low profile after his service as the prime minister.<ref name="Low profile" /> In February 2018, Harper stated that he could have still "easily" been leader of the Conservative Party, but he chose not to amass too much power in order to secure the party's fortunes in the future.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-stephen-harper-says-he-could-still-easily-be-conservative-leader/|title=Stephen Harper says he could still 'easily' be Conservative leader|access-date=May 14, 2018}}</ref>

In December 2015, Harper had set up Harper & Associates Consulting Inc., a corporation that lists him a director alongside close associates [[Ray Novak]] and Jeremy Hunt.<ref name=":0" />

Harper announced in May 2016 that he planned to resign his seat in the House of Commons during the summer before the fall session of Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/stephen-harper-inc-former-pm-sets-up-company/|title=Stephen Harper Inc.: Former PM sets up company|last=Payton|first=Laura|date=May 25, 2016|publisher=[[CTV News]]|access-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref> On May 26, 2016, he was named as a board member for the Conservative Party's fundraising arm.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hilltimes.com/2017/01/23/harper-role-conservative-fund-appears-unprecedented-involvement-expected-boon-fundraising/93365|title=Harper's Conservative Party fundraising role appears unprecedented, expected to mobilize base – The Hill Times|date=January 23, 2017|work=The Hill Times|access-date=April 24, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> The Conservative Fund is noted to have influence on the party operations.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/12/13/scheer-facing-an-internal-audit-over-use-of-conservative-party-funds.html|title=Scheer facing an internal audit over use of Conservative Party funds {{!}} The Star|website=thestar.com|date=December 13, 2019 |language=en|access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> Harper and other directors played a role in the removal of Harper–appointed Conservative executive director Dustin Van Vught to avoid backlash from donors and grassroots conservatives.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-conservative-party-senior-staffer-dismissed-to-avoid-backlash-over/|title=Harper, other Conservative Fund directors fired party's top staffer to avoid donor backlash on tuition fees|access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> In the same month, Harper delivered a speech to the 2016 Conservative Party convention where his accomplishments as party leader and prime minister were honoured by the party.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-sets-up-corporation-1.3601177|title=Stephen Harper's next move: Heading up his own company|date=May 26, 2016|publisher=[[CBC News]]|access-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref>

===After politics (2016–present)===
In October 2017, Harper received media attention for criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's handling of the renegotiation of the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] started by the United States under President [[Donald Trump]], stating that Trudeau was too unwilling to make concessions to the U.S., sided too closely with Mexico, and tried to advance left-wing policies through the renegotiations.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Panetta | first1=Alexander | title=NAFTA Negotiations 'Going Very Badly,' Stephen Harper Writes in Memo Blasting Trudeau Government | newspaper=National Post | url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/napping-on-nafta-harper-blasts-trudeau-government-handling-of-negotiations | date=October 27, 2017 | publisher=[[National Post]] (from [[The Canadian Press]]) | access-date=October 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Quinn | first1=Greg | title=Trudeau's Predecessor Says It's Conceivable Trump Will Scrap Nafta | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-11/trudeau-predecessor-says-it-s-conceivable-trump-will-scrap-nafta | date=October 11, 2017 | publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] | access-date=October 28, 2017}}</ref>

On February 2, 2018, Harper revealed in a statement that he knew about the [[sexual assault]] allegations against then Conservative MP [[Rick Dykstra]] during the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 election]] but could not justify removing him as a candidate because the investigation was closed by police a year before the election.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/novak-dykstra-fired-candidate-1.4518095|title=Harper says he could not justify dumping Dykstra in 2015|work=CBC News|access-date=March 22, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:The former Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper calls on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on January 15, 2018.jpg|thumb|Harper with [[Narendra Modi]] in India in 2018.]]
On March 26, 2018, Harper attended the international Fellowship of Christians and Jews Gala at [[Mar-a-Lago]] where he stated that he expressed support for US president Donald Trump's speech on [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/trump-gets-big-cheers-jewish-christian-gala-mar-lago/c4F1AnyKgj0CYGQ4MFmP3O/|title=Trump gets big cheers at Jewish-Christian gala at Mar-a-Lago|work=palmbeachpost|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref> On May 9, he expressed support for Trump's decision to withdraw from the [[Iran deal]] by lending his signature to an ad that appeared in ''The New York Times'' a day after the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/05/09/stephen-harper-donald-trump-new-york-times-iran-deal_a_23431071/|title=Harper Shows Support For Trump's Iran Decision In Full-Page NYT Ad|date=May 9, 2018|work=HuffPost Canada|access-date=May 10, 2018|language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-iran-trump-ad-1.4656526|title=Former Canadian PM Harper in ad to Trump: 'You are right about Iran' {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=May 10, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

On November 19, 2018, Harper appeared on a show hosted by [[Ben Shapiro]], where he made comments on issues such as populism, immigration and nationalism. The ''National Post'' noted that they "echo the argument made in his recently released book, ''[[Right Here, Right Now (book)|Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption]]'', which urges conservatives to listen to populist grievances, rather than focus on other priorities like tax cuts for the wealthy."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/i-have-no-time-for-illegal-immigration-stephen-harper-says-on-u-s-podcast|title='I have no time for illegal immigration,' Stephen Harper says on U.S. podcast |newspaper=National Post |date=November 19, 2018|language=en-CA|access-date=November 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torontolife.com/city/moments-stephen-harpers-appearance-american-hard-right-podcast/|title=Some moments from Stephen Harper's appearance on an American hard-right podcast|date=November 21, 2018|website=Toronto Life|language=en-US|access-date=November 28, 2019}}</ref>

In January 2019, Harper appeared on a [[PragerU]] video explaining why Donald Trump was [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|elected to the presidency]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 United States election]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 28, 2019|title=Harper opines on Trump win, extols 'populist conservatism' in new video|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/harper-opines-on-trump-win-extols-populist-conservatism-in-new-video/|access-date=February 25, 2021|website=CTV News|language=en}}</ref> Then in May 2019, he appeared on another PragerU video explaining reasons to support Israel amid the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prager |first=Dennis |date=August 6, 2019 |title=Don't Let Google Get Away With Censorship |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-let-google-get-away-with-censorship-11565132175 |access-date=March 2, 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

[[File:10.08 總統接見「玉山論壇貴賓」 (48862740003).jpg|thumb|Harper with [[Tsai Ing-wen]] in [[Republic of China|Taiwan]] in 2019.]]

On March 11, 2021, during a [[Web conferencing|virtual gathering]] hosted by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, Harper claimed that the world has entered into a [[Second Cold War]] between the United States and China, and that middle-power countries such as Canada are also a part of the rivalry between the two main powers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=March 13, 2021|title=Former PM Stephen Harper sees new Cold War, this time between U.S. and China|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/former-pm-stephen-harper-sees-new-cold-war-this-time-between-us-and-china/|access-date=April 8, 2021|website=CTV News|language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, Harper appeared on the podcast American Optimist, hosted by [[Joe Lonsdale]]. In the interview, Harper criticized the Trudeau government's large-scale [[deficit spending]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada|COVID-19 pandemic]], calling it "overkill". He also criticized "[[woke]] culture".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boisvert |first1=Nick |title=Stephen Harper says Canada's pandemic spending has been 'overkill' in podcast appearance |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-podcast-interview-pandemic-1.6120113 |website=CBC News |access-date=August 15, 2022 |date=July 27, 2021}}</ref>

On July 25, 2022, Harper endorsed his former cabinet minister [[Pierre Poilievre]] for the [[2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|leadership of the Conservative Party]]. This was the first time Harper endorsed a federal Conservative leadership candidate; he previously chose not to in the [[2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2017]] and [[2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2020]] leadership elections.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boisvert |first1=Nick |title=Stephen Harper says Pierre Poilievre has the best chance to win the next federal election Social Sharing |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-poilievre-endorsement-1.6531995 |website=CBC News |access-date=August 15, 2022 |date=July 25, 2022}}</ref>

In September 2022, Harper attended Queen Elizabeth II's [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|state funeral]], along with other former Canadian prime ministers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-delegation-to-queen-elizabeth-funeral-1.6584284|title=Prime minister, Governor General to be joined by Indigenous leaders at Queen's funeral|website=[[CBC.ca]]|first=Darren|last=Major|date=September 15, 2022|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref>

On March 22, 2023, during a conservative conference in Ottawa, Harper criticized the Trudeau government's handling of [[Chinese government interference in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections]]. He also criticized the NDP, calling them a "branch plant of the Liberal party" and argued that the party got "nothing" out of its [[confidence-and-supply]] agreement with the Liberal Party.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Major |first=Darren |date=March 22, 2023 |title=Former PM Harper takes jab at Liberals over foreign interference |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-liberals-foreign-interference-1.6787883}}</ref>

In April 2023, Harper endorsed Albertan Premier [[Danielle Smith]] for the [[2023 Alberta general election|2023 Albertan provincial election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2023 |title=Former prime minister Stephen Harper backs Smith with video message |url=https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2023/04/18/former-prime-minister-stephen-harper-backs-smith-with-video-message/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=CityNews Edmonton}}</ref> In November 2024, He was named as [[Alberta Investment Management Corporation]] (AIMCo) Chair by [[Premiership of Danielle Smith|Premier Danielle Smith]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen Harper appointed to oversee Alberta's $160B AIMCo fund {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10879509/stephen-harper-aimco-appointment-alberta/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Austen| first = Ian| title = Alberta Breaks With the Canadian Pension Model| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2024-11-23| date = 2024-11-23| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/world/canada/alberta-breaks-with-the-canadian-pension-model.html}}</ref>

In April 2025, Harper endorsed Pierre Poilievre during a rally in [[Edmonton]] ahead of the [[2025 Canadian federal election|2025 federal election]], stating that Poilievre was the best candidate for a "better, stronger and more united future."<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2025 |title=Canada election: Ex-PM Stephen Harper endorses Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/livestory/canada-election-ex-pm-stephen-harper-endorses-conservative-leader-pierre-poilievre-9.6715290 |work=[[CBC.ca]]}}</ref> Following [[Mark Carney]]'s victory, Harper advised him to reduce Canadian reliance on the United States in the wake of the [[2025 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Swyers |first=Katie |date=2025-07-28 |title=Stephen Harper says he advised Mark Carney's government to move away from the U.S. |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/midwestern-legislative-conference-u-s-canadian-policymakers-1.7595317 |access-date=2025-09-07 |work=[[CBC.ca]]}}</ref> During the election campaign, Harper stated that Carney was taking "undue credit" for his role in the 2008 recession recovery.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boynton |first=Sean |date=2025-03-03 |title=Harper says Carney taking undue credit for Canada's 2008 recession recovery |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/11063086/mark-carney-stephen-harper-economic-record/ |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=[[Global News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

===The International Democracy Union===
The [[International Democracy Union]] is an international alliance of mainstream conservative parties, influenced by [[classical liberalism]]. Harper became chair of the IDU in February 2018,<ref name="ChairIDU">{{cite web | title=The Right Honourable Stephen Harper elected Chairman of the International Democrat Union | website=International Democracy Union | date=2018-02-21 | url=https://www.idu.org/the-right-honourable-stephen-harper-elected-chairman-of-the-international-democrat-union/ | access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref> succeeding [[John Key|Sir John Key]], former prime minister of New Zealand, and as of June 2025, Harper is still the chair of the alliance. Among the current members of the IDU are the [[Conservative Party of Canada]], the [[Likud]] of Israel, the [[New Zealand National Party]], the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] of the UK, and the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] of the United States.

==Public image==
In July 2019, a group of independent academics published an assessment of past prime ministers of Canada based on the number of campaign pledges and promises fulfilled. According to the study, the Harper government fulfilled 85 per cent of its pledges (including partially-completed pledges). When factoring only completed, realized pledges, the Harper's government, in their last year, kept 77 per cent of promises. The study found that the governments led by Harper, in addition to the government led by his successor, [[Justin Trudeau]], had the highest rates of follow-through for campaign promises of any Canadian government in the last 35 years.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Birch|editor1-first=Lisa|editor2-last=Pétry|editor2-first=François|title=Assessing Justin Trudeau's Liberal Government. 353 promises and a mandate for change |date=July 2019 |publisher=Presses de l'Université Laval |location=Quebec City |isbn=978-2-7637-4443-8 |page=262 |edition=first |url=https://www.pulaval.com/produit/assessing-justin-trudeau-s-liberal-government |access-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013172816/https://www.pulaval.com/produit/assessing-justin-trudeau-s-liberal-government }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Blatchford |first1=Andy |title=New book examines Trudeau government's record of living up to pledges |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-new-book-examines-trudeau-governments-record-of-living-up-to-pledges/ |work=The Globe and Mail |access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref>

==Honours==
<div class="center">
[[File:CAN Order of Canada Companion ribbon.svg|100px]] [[File:Alberta Order Excellence ribbon bar.svg|100px]]<br />
[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]] [[File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]] [[File:ACM ribbon.png|105px]]
</div>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|- style="background:silver;" align="center"
|Ribbon || Description || Notes
|-
|[[File:CAN Order of Canada Companion ribbon.svg|100px]] || [[Companion of the Order of Canada]]||
* 2019: For his long-standing career in politics and for his service to the nation as the 22nd prime minister of Canada.<ref>{{cite web |title=Full list of new Order of Canada recipients |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/order-of-canada-full-list-2019-1.5409612 |website=CBC News |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=December 28, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Alberta Order Excellence ribbon bar.svg|100px]] || [[Alberta Order of Excellence|Member of the Alberta Order of Excellence]]||
* 2023: For his long-standing career in politics and for his service to the province of Alberta.<ref name="AOE">{{cite web |url=https://www.alberta.ca/aoe-stephen-harper|title=The Right Honourable Stephen J. Harper |website=alberta.ca |publisher=Government of Alberta |access-date=November 2, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]] || [[Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal]] for Canada||
* 2002: As the leader of the Official Opposition and a member of Parliament, Harper was awarded the medal as a member of the [[Canadian order of precedence]].<ref>{{cite web|website=Website of the Governor General of Canada|title=The Golden Jubilee Medal awarded to The Right Honourable Stephen Joseph Harper, P.C., M.P.|url=http://gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=40057&t=6&ln=Harper|language=en|date=June 11, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]] || [[Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal]] for Canada||
* 2012: As the [[Prime Minister of Canada|prime minister of Canada]] and as a member of Parliament, Harper was awarded the medal as a member of the [[Canadian order of precedence]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded to The Right Honourable Stephen Joseph Harper, P.C., M.P.|url=http://gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=663&t=13&ln=Harper|website=Website of the Governor General of Canada|language=en|date=June 11, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:ACM ribbon.png|100px]] || [[Alberta Centennial Medal]] ||
* 2005
* As a prominent Albertan, as a member of Parliament and in particular, leader of the Official Opposition, Harper was awarded with the Alberta Centennial Medal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.albertacentennial.ca/programs/medal_recip_h-n.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010225253/http://www.albertacentennial.ca/programs/medal_recip_h-n.html |archive-date=October 10, 2006 |title=Centennial Medal Recipients H–N |website=albertacentennial.ca |access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref>
|}

Harper received the [[Woodrow Wilson Award]] on October 6, 2006, for his public service in Calgary. The awards ceremony was held at the [[Telus Convention Centre]] in Calgary, the same place where he made his victory speech.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Kathleen |last1=Harris |last2=Czekaj |first2=Laura |url=http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1246819 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001002033/http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1246819 |archive-date=October 1, 2011 |title=Conservatives back in minority power |work=[[North Bay Nugget]] |publisher=Sun Media |date=October 14, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2011 }}</ref>

[[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] also named him as [[Canadian Newsmaker of the Year (Time)|Canada's Newsmaker of the Year]] in 2006. Stephen Handelman wrote "that the prime minister who was once dismissed as a doctrinaire backroom tactician with no experience in government has emerged as a warrior in power".<ref>{{cite news|author=CTV News|title=Time Magazine dubs Harper Cdn. newsmaker of 2006|publisher=CTV|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061217/harper_newsmaker_061217/20061217|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061221030639/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061217/harper_newsmaker_061217/20061217|archive-date=December 21, 2006|date=December 17, 2006}}</ref>

On June 27, 2008, Harper was awarded the Presidential Gold Medallion for Humanitarianism by [[B'nai B'rith]] International. He is the first Canadian to be awarded this medal.<ref>{{cite news |author=Andrew Mayeda |title=PM calls UN conference an 'anti-Western hatefest{{'-}} |work=National Post |url=https://cjpac.ca/pm-calls-un-conference-an-anti-western-hatefest-canada-wont-go-durban-ii-likely-as-bad-as-durban-i-harper-says/ |date=June 28, 2008 |access-date=April 10, 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On July 11, 2011, Harper was honoured by Alberta's [[Kainai Nation|Blood tribe]]. He was made Honorary Chief of the Kainai Nation during a ceremony, in which they recognized him for making an [[Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission|official apology on behalf of the Government of Canada]] for the [[Canadian Indian residential school system|residential schools abuse]]. Harper issued this apology in 2008. The chief of the tribe explained that he believes the apology officially started the healing and rebuilding of relations between the federal and native councils. [[Lester B. Pearson]], John Diefenbaker, and Jean Chrétien are the only other prime ministers of Canada to have been awarded the same honorary title.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/harper-honoured-by-alberta-s-blood-tribe-1.1088181 "Harper honoured by Alberta's Blood Tribe"], [[CBC News]], The Canadian Press, July 11, 2011</ref>

On September 27, 2012, Harper received the World Statesman of the Year award. This award was offered through a US group of various faith representatives. This occurred at a black tie banquet in New York. Jean Chrétien was one of the previous recipients from Canada.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-accepts-world-statesman-of-the-year-award-1.1258743 "Stephen Harper World Statesman"], [[CBC News]], The Canadian Press, September 27, 2012</ref>

In August 2016 [[President of Ukraine|President]] [[Petro Poroshenko]] of [[Ukraine]] awarded Stephen Harper with the highest award for foreigners–the [[Order of Liberty (Ukraine)|Order of Liberty]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/3402016-20387|title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №340/2016|publisher=Office of the President|date=August 22, 2016|access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>

In December 2019, it was announced by Governor General [[Julie Payette]] that Harper had been appointed as a Companion of the Order of Canada.<ref>{{cite web |title=Full list of new Order of Canada recipients |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/order-of-canada-full-list-2019-1.5409612 |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=December 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zimonjic |first1=Peter |title=Nobel laureate Donna Strickland, James Cameron, Inuk actor Johnny Issaluk among Order of Canada appointees |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/order-of-canada-january-2020-1.5409261 |website=CBC News |access-date=December 28, 2019}}</ref> He was formally [[investiture|invested]] on September 18, 2022, by Governor General [[Mary Simon]] in [[London]] in a ceremony attended by incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and former prime ministers [[Kim Campbell]], Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and former Governors-General Michaëlle Jean and [[David Johnston (governor general)|David Johnston]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Former prime minister Stephen Harper invested into Order of Canada|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stephen-harper-order-of-canada-1.6587436 |website=CBC News |access-date=September 22, 2022}}</ref>

In 2023, he was appointed a Member of the [[Alberta Order of Excellence]], the province's civilian honour for merit.<ref name=AOE />

==Honorary degrees==
;Honorary degrees
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:40%;"| School
! style="width:20%;"| Degree
|-
| {{Flagu|Israel}} || '''January 22, 2014''' || [[Tel Aviv University]] || [[Doctor of Philosophy]] (Ph.D)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottawajewishbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Dr-Stephen-Harper.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612151959/http://www.ottawajewishbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Dr-Stephen-Harper.jpg |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |title=Picture of Stephen Harper holding degree |website=ottawajewishbulletin.com}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Dd7eDi7osX0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140711032823/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7eDi7osX0 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7eDi7osX0 |title=Honorary Degrees Conferment Ceremony, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada |publisher=Tel Aviv University |website=youtube.com |date=January 23, 2014 |access-date=September 27, 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|-
|}
{{Incomplete list|date=June 2018}}

==Personal life==
[[File:Stephen Harper & Larry Smith watched football game.jpg|thumb|right|Stephen Harper and former [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] player [[Larry Smith (Canadian politician)|Larry Smith]] watching a 2012 football game in [[Montreal]].]]
[[File:Harper Canada Day 09.jpg|thumb|right|Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaking at 2009 [[Canada Day]] celebrations on [[Parliament Hill]] in [[Ottawa]].]]

Harper married [[Laureen Harper|Laureen Teskey]] on December 11, 1993.<ref>[http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=14df91d7-f52e-4055-9afc-c9d8c4a60738 PM-to-be's wife kept low profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728042334/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=14df91d7-f52e-4055-9afc-c9d8c4a60738 |date=July 28, 2013 }}, The Vancouver Sun</ref> Laureen was formerly married to [[New Zealand]]er Neil Fenton from 1985 to 1988.<ref name=kingston>Kingston, Anne, [http://www.macleans.ca/canada/features/article.jsp?content=20070813_108157_108157&page=2 "Wife of the party"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518172714/http://www.macleans.ca/canada/features/article.jsp?content=20070813_108157_108157&page=2 |date=May 18, 2011 }}, ''[[Maclean's]]'', August 13, 2007</ref> The Harpers have two children: Benjamin and Rachel. Harper is the third prime minister, after Pierre Trudeau and [[John Turner]], to send his children to [[Rockcliffe Park Public School]], in [[Ottawa]].

In the late 1980s, he became an [[evangelical|evangelical Christian]], a member of RockPointe Church ([[Christian and Missionary Alliance]]) in Bearspaw, a suburb of [[Calgary]], Alberta.<ref>{{Cite web| first= Douglas |last= Todd|title=Why Stephen Harper keeps his evangelical faith very private|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/why-stephen-harper-keeps-his-evangelical-faith-very-private| date= August 17, 2008|access-date=April 17, 2021|website=vancouversun|language=en-CA}}</ref> After moving to Ottawa in 2003, he became a member of East Gate Alliance Church.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Colin |last=Campbell |url=http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20060220_121848_121848&source=srch |title=The church of Stephen Harper |magazine=Maclean's |date=February 20, 2006 |access-date=August 2, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011104055/http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20060220_121848_121848&source=srch |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}</ref>

An avid follower of [[ice hockey]], he has been a fan of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] since his childhood in the Leaside and Etobicoke communities in Toronto.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/news/Harper+finish+book+Canada+sport/5889627/story.html|author=Kennedy, Mark|title=PM Harper set to finish book on Canada's sport|publisher=Postmedia News|date=December 20, 2011|access-date=January 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215010935/http://www.canada.com/news/Harper+finish+book+Canada+sport/5889627/story.html|archive-date=February 15, 2012}}</ref> Harper is also a fan of the [[Calgary Flames]]. He published a book, ''[[A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs and the Rise of Professional Hockey]]'' (2013), which chronicles the growth of professional hockey, particularly in Toronto,<ref>{{cite news |last=Keller |first=Tony |url=http://theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/harpers-hockey-history-captures-the-pulse-of-a-young-canada/article15259351/ |title=A Great Game: Stephen Harper's hockey history captures the pulse of a young Canada |work=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto, ON |date=November 6, 2013 |access-date=November 8, 2013}}</ref> and writes articles occasionally on the subject.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/News/article/164678|author=Harper, Stephen|title=Long before Leafs, T.O. had a team to call its own|work=The Star|date=December 23, 2006|access-date=October 17, 2008|location=Toronto|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001025133/http://www.thestar.com/News/article/164678|archive-date=October 1, 2008}}</ref> Harper appeared on [[The Sports Network]] (TSN) during the broadcast of the Canada–Russia final of the [[2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships]]. He was interviewed and expressed his views on the state of hockey and his preference for an overtime period in lieu of a shoot-out.<ref>{{cite news|author=Tuck, Simon|title=Harper prefers 'team' approach to shootouts|work=Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070105.wsptharper5/BNStory/Front|date=January 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116020343/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070105.wsptharper5/BNStory/Front|archive-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref> In February 2010, Harper interviewed former [[National Hockey League]] greats [[Wayne Gretzky]] and [[Gordie Howe]] for a Saskatoon Kinsmen Club charity event.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/02/18/david-akin-harper-howe-gretzky-shameless-totally-shameless.aspx|title=Harper, Howe, Gretzky. No leftwingers in sight|work=The National Post|date=February 18, 2010|first=David|last=Akin|author-link=David Akin|access-date=March 13, 2010}}{{dead link|date=October 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Harper had a [[cameo appearance]] in an episode of the television show ''[[Corner Gas]],'' which aired March 12, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=410fd944-cf55-4760-b0f9-f5bfa9200dab|title=Don't quit your day job|work=The Regina Leader Post|date=August 30, 2006|first=Karen|last=Brownlee|access-date=December 6, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013134604/http://canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=410fd944-cf55-4760-b0f9-f5bfa9200dab|archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref> In October 2010, he taped a cameo appearance in an episode of the television show ''[[Murdoch Mysteries]]'', which aired July 20, 2011, during the show's fourth season.<ref name=CityNews20101015>{{cite news|url=http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/news/article/96876--prime-minister-harper-shoots-cameo-on-murdoch-mysteries |title=Prime Minister Harper Shoots Cameo On Murdoch Mysteries |work=CityNews Toronto |publisher=[[Rogers Media]] |date=October 15, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629104848/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/news/article/96876--prime-minister-harper-shoots-cameo-on-murdoch-mysteries |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref><ref name=globeandmailcameo>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/harpers-murdoch-cameo-and-other-famous-political-pop-culture-mashups/article586714/|title=Harper's Murdoch cameo, and other famous political pop culture mashups|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=Phillip Crawley|date=July 13, 2011|access-date=April 10, 2021|first=Anita|last=Li}}</ref>

Harper owns an extensive [[Gramophone record|vinyl record]] collection and is a fan of [[The Beatles]] and [[AC/DC]].<ref>{{cite news|first=A.|last=Dunfield|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040520.wcestwhatele0518/BNStory/specialDecision2004|title=Lighter side: C'est what?|work=The Globe and Mail|date=June 25, 2004|access-date=April 4, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626053148/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040520.wcestwhatele0518/BNStory/specialDecision2004/|archive-date=June 26, 2006}}'</ref> In October 2009, he joined [[Yo-Yo Ma]] on stage in a [[National Arts Centre]] gala and performed "[[With a Little Help from My Friends]]". He was also accompanied by Herringbone, an Ottawa band with whom he regularly practices.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Harper+changes+tune+gala/2064118/story.html |title=Harper gets on stage with a little help from his wife |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=October 2, 2009 |first=Joanne |last=Chianello |access-date=October 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006010946/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Harper%2Bchanges%2Btune%2Bgala/2064118/story.html |archive-date=October 6, 2009 }}</ref> He received a standing ovation after providing the piano accompaniment and lead vocals for the song.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/pm-gets-by-with-help-from-yo-yo-ma-1.797851|title=PM gets by with help from Yo-Yo Ma|publisher=CBC News|date=October 4, 2009|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref> Harper was part of a band called The Van Cats, a pun on "vingt-quatre" ("24" in French), referring to the prime ministerial residence of [[24 Sussex Drive]].<ref name="d378">{{cite web | last=Pastuk | first=Slava | title=A Critical Review of Stephen Harper Covering Guns N' Roses | website=VICE | date=2014-12-11 | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-critical-review-of-stephen-harpers-band/ | access-date=2024-08-21}}</ref><ref name="m675">{{cite web | first=Kyle | last=Hickey | title=Skinny jeans and sudden outbursts: A day on the road with Stephen Harper's band Van Cats | website=CBC | date=2016-03-30 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/comedy/funnystuff/skinny-jeans-and-sudden-outbursts-a-day-on-the-road-with-stephen-harper-s-band-van-cats-1.3631547 | access-date=2024-08-21}}</ref>

He was the first prime minister to employ a personal stylist, Michelle Muntean, whose duties range from coordinating his clothing to preparing his hair and makeup for speeches and television appearances. While she used to be on the public payroll, she has been paid for by the Conservative Party since "some time [in] 2007".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/stephen-harper-s-stylist-no-longer-on-public-payroll-1.513467|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724010323/http://www.ctvnews.ca/stephen-harper-s-stylist-no-longer-on-public-payroll-1.513467|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2012|title=Stephen Harper's stylist no longer on public payroll|date=May 18, 2010|access-date=April 10, 2021|publisher=The Canadian Press}}</ref>

As of 2013, the Harper family had two cats, Stanley and Gypsy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jolivet |first=Lindsay |url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/letter-writer-gets-reply-framed-cat-photo-prime-143208496.html?.tsrc=lgwn |title=Letter writer gets reply, framed cat photo from Prime Minister Harper &#124; Daily Buzz&nbsp;— Yahoo! News Canada |publisher=Ca.news.yahoo.com |date=March 21, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> They have fostered other cats as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pm.gc.ca/eng/fostering-pets |title=Fostering pets |access-date=October 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011231016/http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/fostering-pets |archive-date=October 11, 2013 }}</ref>

==Electoral record==
{{Main|Electoral history of Stephen Harper}}

==Bibliography==
{{Main article|Bibliography of Stephen Harper}}
* ''[[A Great Game]]'' – {{cite book|last=Harper|first=Stephen J.|year=2013|title=A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs and the Rise of Professional Hockey|location=Toronto|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=978-1-4767-1653-4|oclc=857979705|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UTXJAQAAQBAJ}}
* ''[[Right Here, Right Now (book)|Right Here, Right Now]]'' – {{cite book|last=Harper|first=Stephen J.|year=2018|title=Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption|location=Toronto|publisher=[[McClelland & Stewart|Signal]]|isbn=978-0-7710-3862-4|oclc=1039413914|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bGp0DwAAQBAJ}}
* ''[[Flags of Canada (book)|Flags of Canada]]'' – {{cite book|last=Harper|first=Stephen J.|year=2025|title=Flags of Canada|location=Toronto|publisher=[[Sutherland House Books]]|isbn=978-1-9983-6549-4|oclc=1475304826|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VRj_0AEACAAJ}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Canada|Politics}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[28th Canadian Ministry]] The Harper cabinet
* [[List of prime ministers of Canada]]
* [[List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II]]
* [[Canada–United States softwood lumber dispute]]
* [[Conservative Party of Canada]]
* [[Reform Party of Canada]]
* [[Canadian Alliance]]
* [[Conservatism in Canada]]
* [[Canada's Global Markets Action Plan]]
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Bibliography of Stephen Harper|List of books about Prime Ministers of Canada}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Behiels |first1=Michael D. |title=Stephen Harper's Rise to Power: Will His "New" Conservative Party Become Canada's "Natural Governing Party" of the Twenty-First Century? |journal=American Review of Canadian Studies |date=2010 |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=118–145 |url=http://people.stfx.ca/x2009/x2009hpn/585505_770884626_919581663.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929122442/http://people.stfx.ca/x2009/x2009hpn/585505_770884626_919581663.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2011 |doi=10.1080/02722010903545418|s2cid=144294198 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Hébert |first1=Chantal |title=French Kiss: Stephen Harper's Blind Date with Quebec |date=2007 |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf Canada |location=Toronto |isbn=978-0-676-97907-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/frenchkissstephe0000hebe |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Cody |first1=Howard |title=Minority Government in Canada: The Stephen Harper Experience |journal=The American Review of Canadian Studies |date=March 2008 |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=27–42 |doi=10.1080/02722010809481819|s2cid=155065488 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Flanagan |first1=Tom |title=Harper's Team: Behind the Scenes in the Conservative Rise to Power |date=2009 |publisher=McGill-Queens's University Press |isbn=978-0-7735-3298-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F0WjzT3M01cC}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gutstein |first1=Donald |title=Harperism: How Stephen Harper and His Think Tank Colleagues Have Transformed Canada |date=2014 |publisher=Lorimer |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-4594-0663-6}}
* {{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=William |title=Stephen Harper & the Future of Canada |date=2006 |publisher=Douglas Gibson |isbn=0-7710-4350-3 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mojDQdgGhQgC}}
* {{cite book |last1=Mackey |first1=Lloyd |title=The Pilgrimage of Stephen Harper |date=2005 |publisher=ECW Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-155022-713-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/pilgrimageofstep0000mack |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last1=Martin |first1=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Martin (journalist)|title=Harperland: The Politics of Control |date=2010 |publisher=Viking Canada |isbn=978-0-670-06517-2}}
*{{cite book |last1=Plamondon |first1=Bob |title=Full circle: death and resurrection in Canadian conservative politics |date=2006 |publisher=Key Porter Books |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-55263-855-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/fullcircledeathr0000plam |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Richter |first1=Andrew |title=A Defense Renaissance? The Canadian Conservative Government and the Military |journal=American Review of Canadian Studies |date=2013 |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=424–450 |doi=10.1080/02722011.2013.819586|s2cid=143987827 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=Paul |title=The Longer Im Prime Minister Stephen Harper And Canada 2006 |date=2013 |publisher=Random House |location=Toronto |isbn=978-0-307-36132-5 |url=https://archive.org/stream/longerimprimemin0000well |url-access=registration}}

{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=1537235}}

{{Harper Government}}
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[[Category:Stephen Harper| ]]
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